People, the recent action by Mr Arthur Somare to disallow Universities and research institutions to have internet access by having their own satelite link in unbelieveable.

Whose interests is he serving?

The Internet is a very powerful tool for research institution, universities and laboratories. Historically, its very being of existence resulted because universities, institution and laboratories envisioned the necessity and supremacy for efficient collaboration and transfer of information worldwide. If you don’t know the legend behind the Internet it began in 1969 as an experimental project of the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA). First called ARPANET, the network linked computers and computer networks owned by the military, defense contractors, and university laboratories conducting defense-related research. The network later allowed researchers across the country to access directly and to use extremely powerful supercomputers located at a few key universities and laboratories. As it evolved far beyond its research origins in the United States to encompass universities, corporations, and individuals around the world, the ARPANET came to be called the "DARPA Internet," and finally just the "Internet." Mr. Somare’s lack of perception and respect for the powers of Broadband Internet Technology for education, research and development is absolutely demeaning on his dignity as a well-educated and coherent person, and a total insult to the future of Papua New Guinea. He has single handedly destroyed the future of PNG more than what AIDS or any Natural disaster can do. When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and asking questions, then it is time to die. It is an insult for the instructors, researchers and academics that labor into the early hours of the morning trying to collate material and wait for new textbook or journals that have been order through the conventional snail mail. It awfully disheartening and uninspiring, we lecturers, instructors and researchers need to be knowledgeably fit; new information is food for the mind and by new information we will teach, by teaching we will learn further naturally advancing research and development. I urge the Sana who himself, was once a teacher to disciple his Cabinet Minster and to urge Mr. Somare to consider the hearts and aspiration of the children foremost for Papua New Guinea this coming independence and change the Telikom policy. Unfortunately for PNG Tertiary education system, we are at the pre-1969 era.

kolwan

Kolwan, I could not have said it better.

Please, we need to do something to put pressure on Somare/government to allow Universities and research organisations to have their own satelite link for internet.

Suggestions please.

Yes, I totally agree on the positive impacts of BroadBand, internet calls to family will be absolutely inexpensive. I think that is why Mr.Somare is extremely distressed in losing money. I guess he may have attachements going down deeper than just a minsterial portfolio.

What can we do but write letters of complains to be published on the web or the two national news papers.

Theres is one most feasible thing to do and that is email Petition. Instead of fowarding *interesting* emails to friends. We could write a email to do a petition via email.

For example, it could read as below.

Dear Wantoks,

Recently, the PNG government through the actions of the Minister responsible for state enterprise has selfishly obstructed the approval for broadband technology to be used as a tool in high education. We feel very strongly about this and urge the NEC to reconsider and change policies where necessary. Historically, Broadband technology and internet’s very being of existence resulted because universities, institution and laboratories envisioned the necessity and supremacy for efficient collaboration and transfer of information worldwide through the commencement of an experimental project called the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) in 1969, these has evolve into the internet. Mr. Somare’s lack of perception and respect for the powers of Broadband Internet Technology for education, research and development is absolutely demeaning on his dignity as a well-educated and coherent person, and a total insult to the future of Papua New Guinea. He has single handedly destroyed the future of PNG more than what AIDS or any Natural disaster can do. When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and asking questions, then it is time to die. It is an insult for the instructors, researchers and academics that labor into the early hours of the morning trying to collate material and wait for new textbook or journals that have been order through the conventional snail mail. It awfully disheartening and uninspiring, the Lecturers, instructors and researchers need to be knowledgeably fit; new information is food for the mind and by new information they will teach, by teaching they will learn further naturally advancing research and development. We there following people urge the Sana who himself, was once a teacher to review the decision by NEC and to urge Mr. Somare to consider the hearts and aspiration of the children of PNG foremost for this coming independence and change the Telikom policy.

If you are the 50th Person. Forward the email to:
pmsoffice@pm.gov.pg
letters@thenational.com.pg
postcourier@spp.com.pg

Signed
1. Kolwan (of course I will have to put my real name and location)

_________________________

What are your thoughts??

The idea is an excellent one.

Who is better placed and well versed with internet technology than us who use and see the imporance of internet in learning and research institutions to pettition the government via a email petition.

And WHY NOT! There is abosolutely no harm in peitioning. But we stand to lose a great deal if we do nothing!

Kolwan, can you leave your email address so that those feel like editing/adding/contributing to your letter can do so. After that send the email to every one we know and once the mail reaches the 50th person he/she forwards it to the addresses provided by kolwan.

The email address is attached as hyperlink to my name.
Ta

Send me a copy if you guys are going through with this..
I would be more than happy to forward it to my other wantoks!
Cheers!!

Scientific know-how hinders growth

By PETER KORUGL (www.thenational.com.pg)
THE inability of Papua New Guinea to put to use scientific and technological knowledge is a major hindrance to its economic growth,” acting Prime Minister Don Polye said yesterday.
“Scientific and technological knowledge is an overarching tool for all in the urban, the urban fringe and rural communities. Yet application is a major challenge for higher education, universities and other forms of tertiary and general education.
<b>“Access to useful information is a must, while application and diffusion is key,”</b> Mr Polye said in his keynote address at the 5th Huon seminar held at the University of Technology yesterday.
He said mixing imported with traditional and local knowledge would play a role much more important in terms of competitiveness and growth of PNG through knowledge and practices in areas like plants, health, culture and sciences.
“Important initiatives are being developed or at embryonic stages elsewhere in PNG involving herbal and agricultural products.
“Groups in the Simbu, Eastern Highlands, Milne Bay, Bougainville and others are setting trends in applying imported knowledge to manufacture products from local agriculture and natural resources.
______________________________________

Here the minister says information is the key!

Hey Kosmo and the others, the internet petition we instigated has raised awareness.

http://www.thenational.com.pg/092806/nation7.htm


Somare denies internet blockage

By FREDDY GIGMAI
MINISTER for Public Enterprise, Information and Development Cooperation Arthur Somare said yesterday that he did not block the approval of internet to be used as a learning tool in universities and other higher learning institutions in Papua New Guinea.
Mr Somare, who returned from Beijing, China, told reporters at a press conference at the Jackson’s VIP lounge that he was talking from the perspective of introducing a policy framework, which had been absent in the past, so that broadband technology (internet) can be accessed not only by higher learning institutions but by all Papua New Guineans.
“In the past, we have made submissions without a policy framework in place and that is why a policy had to be introduced that looks at the benefit of all and not a minority,” Mr Somare said.
The minister said he had already drafted a policy framework and it was in its final stage and will soon introduce it for deliberations.
He said internet involved a lot of important areas like finance, economy, science and research, and it was only proper to have a policy framework in place so that it could benefit everyone unlike the past.
“I did not block-off the internet to the universities,” Mr Somare said.
Meanwhile, some university students have already carried out an email campaign to petition the Government after it was reported in the media that Mr Somare had obstructed the approval for broadband technology to be used as a learning tool in higher educational institutions during a recent NEC meeting in Goroka, Eastern Highlands province.
But with the minister’s explanation, it should clear some doubt over the issue.

Good job all!! :)

Congratulations to everyone to signed their name and forwarded the email petition to PMs departmeent and the newspapers.

I think we have made our stand very clear and that is broadband internet technology must be allowed in Unis, research institutions and other learning institutions. Mr Somare therefore has the responsibility to push the policy framework through to NEC for approval to allow these insitutions to have their own access outside of Telikom.

The creators of vortexpng must also be congratulated for taking the initiative to come up with the idea which has done its intended purpose: to unit all PNG schorlars and professionals for the benefit of all PNGeans.

Congratulations to you all.

Congratulations all, another associated article

Internet access vital for Government MTDS policy by VC UPNG Professor Ross Haynes,

http://www.thenational.com.pg/092806/nation7.htm

Cheers

CUT & PASTE from the National ----10/10/06

http://www.thenational.com.pg/101006/index.htm

Sports by KEVIN PAMBA
PNG needs internet broadband access fast

The University of South Pacific (USP) in Fiji enjoys an internet access bandwidth of 155 megabytes per second (Mbps). This compares with the 2Mbps capacity available to universities and other users in PNG.
The increased and high-speed internet access capacity at USP comes after the Fijian government granted a licence to the regional university to operate an independent internet access. Prior to that, USP “enjoyed 1Mbps”, according to online news reports from Fiji.
The licence specifically allowed USP to directly link up with the Australian Academic Research Network (AARNET), an internet-based network run by a non-profit company funded by 37 Australian universities and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
“AARNET provides high-capacity internet services to tertiary education and research communities and prior to USP’s connection, served over 800,000 users,” reported the online site, adding the awarding of the licence and USP’s consequent link up with AARNET came at the end of long negotiations by the university with relevant government ministries and Fiji’s sole international bandwidth provider Fintel and its part owner and government telecommunication monopoly, Fiji Telecom.
The arrangement allows USP an unlimited access to the huge pool of academic and research information available on AARNET.
The Fijian information, communications and media relations minister Simione Kaitani was upbeat when granting the internet licence. He was reported in the local media as saying the government supported increased access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) to foster a “knowledge-based” society in Fiji.
Mr Kaitani said the government was aware of the importance to keep abreast with evolving technology not only for tertiary institutions but also for the general public.
“As the Minister for Information, I applaud the enhancing of internet services at USP, it is in line with my ministry’s vision of an informed, connected and united Fiji.
“The government is happy to grant the licence to USP and hopes it will enhance internet services to meet special requirements by students and staff at the institution,” Mr Kaitani said.
Another online site reported that Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), which owns Telecom Fiji and has management rights in Fintel, was also enthusiastic about the future.
“The AARNET agreement will bring the world’s reservoir of knowledge to USP through technology and it is for the good of education as a whole,” CEO Lionel Yee said.
“It is for the greater good of Fiji and the region because it will bring the entire area up-to-speed with what is available in other university campuses in the world. It will help educate our people and produce a modern informed workforce.”
The online site also reported that the entire USP campus welcomed the good news with the benefits immediately felt with high-speed access to the internet.
USP’s then acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajesh Chandra had said the licence would increase internet broadband at USP by 1Mbps to 155Mbps.
“I’d never imagined the internet could be this fast,” one USP student was quoted.
“I have downloaded some audio files and what would have taken hours before, now takes about three minutes. Another big change is now we can listen to online radio stations from all over the globe and the broadcast comes through clearly,”
another student said.
The PNG Vice-Chancellors’ Committee considers the 2Mbps access provided by Telikom PNG to universities and research institutes are well-below international minimum bandwidth limits and counter-productive.
“Most overseas research institutes and universities find 100Mbps a minimum,” the PNG vice-chancellors said in a paid newspaper advertisement recently.
The USP bandwidth capacity of 155Mbps is above the international minimum.
The universities have been campaigning for independent access to
the internet for educa-tional and research purposes rather than having to go through one gate-way in Telikom.
Information Minister Arthur Somare said in a full-page advertisement yesterday that he was not stopping universities and research organisations to have increased access to the internet as reported in the media recently.
“The reports of me denying students and researchers from accessing the internet are completely wrong, misleading and untrue,” Mr Somare said in the newspaper advert.
He said what was reported was the work of “certain interest groups” out to undermine the government’s ICT policy decision (NEC Decision No. 280).
“The process of policy development is already underway for the ICT sector as whole. And as a responsible government we cannot allow narrow interest groups who have half an agenda to hijack a clear responsible approach to decision making with government to upstage or jeopardise what is good for PNG and all Papua New Guineans,” Mr Somare said.
He said the policy had to consider all parties interested in ICT and the sector as whole and not a segment of the society.
Mr Somare said he was all for ICTs for national development but the hold up was with policy formulation and the current ICT draft policy has to get to the National Executive Council deliberate on.
“I can assure the public that an underlying intention of the development of this policy would be to enable Papua New Guineans to have, as their right, access to internet, (with broadband technology) and other ICT mediums that is affordable, reliable and deliverable on a timely manner,” he added.
“The draft policy takes a holistic approach to ICT development within PNG and accentuates the need to look at the bigger picture on ICT and not just segments of this sector.”
The vice-chancellors, their universities and others interest in increased access to the internet will be keenly waiting for the completed ICT policy.

PNG's universities and tertiary institutions should be the first to embrace broadband internet. It is a vital research tool. if we are to keep up with the rest of the world, the government should fasttrack the appropriate legislature and infrastructure to make broadband internet available to these learning institutions as they do alot of research that is relative to the development of PNG as a whole.

I think by next year, public access to broad band should be up and running. If you want to enquire further, please contact any ISP provide. I believe they have already recieved a circular regarding broadband
cheers
insider