[Cidrz] FW: CIDRZ and GPRS data

Fri Apr 4 13:09:58 EDT 2008

i wonder if the connection from the phone to a server on the i connect
network is slower than if the server was in the US, Europe or south
africa, where probably connection is cheaper and better

2008/4/4, Daniel Myung <dmyung at dimagi.com>:
> 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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> > > Cidrz at mit.edu
> > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/cidrz
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Andrés
> > _______________________________________________
> > Cidrz mailing list
> > Cidrz at mit.edu
> > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/cidrz
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> 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/
>


-- 
Andrés