Global Reproductive Health IT Support list

[Stan Mullen <SMullen AT pathfind.org>]

Gentlemen, join the crowd. I’m currently at the Addis office and have spent the last three days meeting with Ethiopia Telecom trying to resolve what used to be so perfect when I left last June.  I’m experiencing this first hand. The internet problem (or lack of it) is being felt all over the country. They are experiencing a real congestion problem as they only allow 820 simultaneous connections to their access servers. This is currently servicing the entire country. Yes, 820 for the entire Ethiopian population. If you are lucky to get to one of their access modems, the next problem is either their network isn’t passing you through or you receive an invalid username on the domain even though you have the proper logon credentials.

 

I’m getting mixed signals about the availability of a leased line. Folks, it is extremely expensive around 2,200 one time set up and about 1,100 / month. WOW – this is for the lowest 64K dedicated connection. We have been told one month for the installation. Another person indicated that it wouldn’t happen for at least six months. I met with the General Manager for ET this morning and he indicated that these access problems are short lived.

 

If you need anything from me, I’ll be here in the country until Friday.

 

It’s definitely a problem for everyone at the moment. And, yes – no alternatives. ET is the only player in town.

 

Thanks

_____________________

Stan Mullen

Director of Technology Services

Pathfinder International

Nine Galen Street, Suite 217

Watertown, MA 02472

smullen AT pathfind.org

 

(W) 617-924-7200 x300

(F) 617-924-3833

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Dykki Settle [mailto:dsettle AT intrahealth.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 10:13 AM
To: 'Global Reproductive Health IT Support list'
Cc: 'Getu Kassa'
Subject: RE: [grhits] Ethiopia

 

Jonathan, we are using a great guy there, Getu Kassa.  He came highly recommended to us from Stan Mullen at Pathfinder and did a remarkable job on our network there.  I too investigated leased line/satellite options and found that satellite wasn’t available, and leased line took close to a year to get.  If you find out something different in your investigations, let me know…   Here is Getu’s contact information..

 

Getu Kassa

Communication Engineer

 

P.O. Box 11454

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

 

Tel :  251 9 21 28 29

Email: Getukassa AT yahoo.com

 

-

Dykki Settle

Director, IT

IntraHealth International, Inc /Prime II

 

-----Original Message-----
From: grhits-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:grhits-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jonathan Fulcher
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 10:06 AM
To: grhits AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [grhits] Ethiopia

 

Hey Folks,

 

We are having major connectivity problems in our Ethiopia office.

 

Do any of you have reliable vendors that you work with in that area?

 

We are looking into the leased line/satellite sharing options, and any insight you have would be more than helpful.

 

Jonathan Fulcher

Ipas

919 960 5622