Vanuatu IT Users Society

By George Tasso

Back in 2006 I inquired on Vanuatu IT User Group  (VIGNET) Mailing list if we  should worry about having a critical mass of ni-Vanuatu programmers before  participating actively in Open Source  software development. A wise friend responded with these words.

“Note that ‘critical mass’ does not (necessarily) consist of

FOSS-educated ni-Vanuatu. Having enough people online who have a good

understanding of how things are in a wide variety of circumstances

throughout the developing world should be enough to start. In other

words, birds of a feather can flock together, regardless of nationality.”

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Vila town and Beverly Hills now have internet wireless coverage via Telsat Vanuatu. Prices starts at 500VT for 7 days 25mb data (local residents only!). Check telsat website www.telsat.vu for more information.

As reported by their Facebook page, it is a wireless hotspot, though they are using new “mesh” technology. When the business is fully setup, customers will be able to stay logged into their account wherever there are Telsat coverage, similar to how people can make mobile phone calls as long as they have mobile coverage.

Telsat illustrated the idea as like one GIANT hotspot.

PICISOC and the PacINET 2010 planning committee are proud to announce the annual PacINET regional IT conference will be held at the Emalus campus of the University of the South Pacific, located in Port Vila, Vanuatu. PacINET 2010 will run from September 13-17.

The conference theme is “Next
Generation Internet: Security and Governance”.

I’ve been playing with a Digicel GPRS modem for the last few days, and thought I’d share some initial impressions.

To me, a computer without Internet access feels like a car without wheels. Trotting around town with my GPRS-enabled laptop has made me realise just how many ways the Internet supplements my daily existence. Technical disputes with my kava-drinking buddies are resolved in a flash. (“Dude, railway ties are so treated with creosote. So there.”) My extended family can keep track on what their friends overseas are up to. The opportunities to learn are immense, too. (True story: someone asked me how tall a giraffe is. For the first time ever, I was able to say, “Hang on. I’ll show you.”)

That said, GPRS is far better suited to intermittent connectivity than staying online full-time. A quick facebook update here, an email there – that sort of thing. But compared to the amount of Internet available throughout most of the country (i.e. none) I’ve got to say it’s pretty darn cool to have it when you need it.

Read on for the geeky details.

NOTE: Take everything I say with a grain of salt – I’ve only just started this evaluation, so I reserve the right to be very, very wrong on some or all what follows….

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TVL last night announced significant reductions in the price of ADSL and WiMax services.

The most significant reduction is the Internet Home 128 kb service that was reduced from 16,800 vt/month to 5,950 vt per month.

See the attached file(s) for details.

TVL New Internet Pricing ENGLISH (PDF File)

TVL New Internet Pricing FRENCH (PDF File)

The VITUS submission to the DRAFT Telecommunications Licences and the results of the survey that 27 members completed has now been submitted to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities.  Thanks to all members that contributed to the discussion and completed the survey.  You can read our submission below and view the results of the survey.

vitus-submission-telecoms-licences

vitus-surveyresults

Following discussions on VIGNET since 8 September, the main points raised in the discussions have been formed into a survey.  Please have your say on these issues by completing the survey.  We will use the results of this survey to help with the VITUS submission to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities.  Submissions close on Wednesday 17th September so we will close the survey at 12 midday on that day to allow time to add the survey responses to our submission.

Survey link: http://www.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?E4C0ACB4EDA6B8B5

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities is inviting comments on the following:

1. Draft telecommunications licensing policy (Download here)
2. Draft standard telecommunications licence (Download here)
3. Draft application for licence (Download here)

I think that VIGNET should see if we can do a response that represents the thoughts of all members.

Responses are required by 5:00pm on Wed 17th September so there is not much time to prepare responses.

I met with Digicel management a little while ago to do some research for my column, and they mentioned that they’d posted an advertisement for the position of Technical Operations Manager.

This is a senior technical position with the company, with significant responsibility.

You can get a copy of the job description here.

Contact Douglas Creevey, CTO of Digicel Vanuatu, for further information:

PMB 9103, Ellouk Plateau, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Mob +(678) 555 5008 | Fax +(678) 27865

This advertisement is offered as a public service. All employers seeking skilled technical staff and/or management are encouraged to contact VITUS. We will be happy to offer whatever assistance we can.

This online document was authored by IT professionals in Vanuatu at the IT Best Practices Works, held June 24 2005 at the Freswota Computer Resource Center (CRC)

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