[Cidrz] FW: CIDRZ and GPRS data

Fri Apr 4 12:36:31 EDT 2008

iConnect is one of the leading satellite providers in zambia.  they have a
high up front cost and are not the greatest in terms of connection speed:

http://iconnect.zm/

2008/4/4 Andrés Monroy-Hernández <andresmh at media.mit.edu>:

> What is iConnect?
>
> 2008/4/3, Daniel Myung <dmyung at dimagi.com>:
> >
> > hey guys,
> >
> > below are some correspondence I had from offficials at CelTel Zambia.
> > looks like their pricing structure is reasonable.
> >
> > i'm estimating that each phone will need the 100MB at least service and
> > the cidrz server will need the unlimited plan for aggregation and download.
> >
> >
> > looks like with some special help they can get a static IP within
> > country for the cell phones.  I'm querying back to see what it means for
> > stuff outside the world...as the cameroona and US docs would need to get
> > back in for access as well.
> >
> > dan
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: John Hameja <Hameja.J at zm.celtel.com>
> > Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 4:58 AM
> > Subject: FW: CIDRZ and GPRS data
> > To: dmyung at dimagi.com
> > Cc: James Museba <Museba.J at zm.celtel.com>, David Venn <
> > Venn.d at zm.celtel.com>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Daniel
> >
> > Find answers below in the mail marked in red.
> >
> > John
> >
> > Vas and Data Services Manager
> >
> > *From:* Daniel Myung [*mailto:dmyung at dimagi.com* <dmyung at dimagi.com>]
> > ***Sent:* Monday, March 31, 2008 10:39 PM
> > ***To:* David Venn; Groesbeck Parham; groesbeck parham
> > ***Subject:* CIDRZ and GPRS data
> >
> > Hi Mr. Venn,
> >
> > We spoke briefly over the phone a few months back in regards to a
> > software development project with CIDRZ involving sending data over GPRS.
> > CC'd to this message is Dr. Parham, the lead point of contact on this
> > effort.  The following message asks a flurry of questions in regards to the
> > state of GPRS and MMS in Zambia.  We'd like to
> >  get a better sense of what costs to consider when scaling out a
> > nationwide service over CelTel's network.
> >
> > The project particulars are as such:
> >
> > In a clinic a nurse will take a picture of a patient for diagnosis and
> > evaluation.  The image and corresponding data will be sent via GPRS to a
> > central server in CIDRZ's offices.  The CIDRZ office server will then MMS
> > the image to a doctor for his/her review.
> >
> > A few assumptions we will be making in a pilot implementation.
> >
> > First, we will assume that the software we develop will streamline the
> > preparation of the data package.
> > Next, we will assume that the nurse is in a place with reasonable
> > coverage such that GPRS (or even better, EDGE) is available to make the
> > transmission.
> >
> > Of concern though is the actual route that the data will take from the
> > phone out in say, Choma, back to CIDRZ in Lusaka.
> > This is local traffic and therefore it will routed locally on a secure
> > pipe.
> >
> > If the server has an internet connection (and static IP address)
> > assigned by iConnect, how will GPRS data route through the internet, will it
> > it hit out via satellite and back in?
> > There are two options to this approach,
> >
> > 1. we plug-in a GPRS router into Server/Lan from GPRS side then you will
> > have the ability to plug more servers or
> >
> >     computers to this router.
> >
> >  2. Install a GPRS card on your server and then you will not be required
> > to use iConnect internet service for this
> >
> >      purpose.
> >
> > If the server has a GPRS or EDGE card, will it have a static IP or have
> > a DNS entry understandable such that a CelTel GRPS packet will never leave
> > CelTel's internal routers?
> > We shall assign you a separate Access Point Name (APN) and dedicate all
> > CIDRZ traffic to this channel and then you shall have fixed IP addresses.
> >
> > If we go the route of the CIDRZ server having a GPRS/EDGE card for
> > receiving all inbound data from all over the country, what sort of pricing
> > plans are available?
> >
> > Celtel access to GPRS network:
> > Pay per use - K1,600 per MB  -  1579
> >
> > 15MB/month - K19,500          - Correct
> > 100MB/month - K85,000        - Correct
> >
> > Below is a pricelist I saw off the web for GPRS coverage, numbers from
> > from July 2007.
> >
> > Pay per use - K1,600 per MB  -  1579
> >
> > 15MB/month - K19,500          - Correct
> > 100MB/month - K85,000        - Correct
> >
> > I guess a concern is a centralized aggregation site with a "pay for
> > bandwidth" doesn't make it easy for CIDRZ to scale this service nationwide.
> > Does CelTel have an unlimited monthly data plan for computers?  Also, phone
> > plans with unlimited data are of interest too.
> > Marketing to advise as they are still working on the pricing stracture
> > on this.
> >
> > I would love the chance to speak with you again.  I'm currently in the
> > states in Boston, if there's a time convenient for you to chat on this, I'd
> > really appreciate it.
> >
> > Many thanks,
> >
> > Dan
> >
> > --
> > Daniel Myung
> > Senior Engineer
> > Dimagi, Inc | One Kendall Square | Bldg. 400, 4th Floor | Cambridge, MA
> > 02139
> > work: (617) 621 8595 | cell: (617) 645 3236
> > *http://www.dimagi.com/* <http://www.dimagi.com/>
> > ------------------------------
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> >
> >  ------------------------------
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Daniel Myung
> > Senior Engineer
> > Dimagi, Inc | One Kendall Square | Bldg. 400, 4th Floor | Cambridge, MA
> > 02139
> > work: (617) 621 8595 | cell: (617) 645 3236
> > http://www.dimagi.com/
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> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Andrés
> _______________________________________________
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>
>

-- 
Daniel Myung
Senior Engineer
Dimagi, Inc | One Kendall Square | Bldg. 400, 4th Floor | Cambridge, MA
02139
work: (617) 621 8595 | cell: (617) 645 3236
http://www.dimagi.com/
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