[Cidrz] FW: CIDRZ and GPRS data

Fri Apr 4 13:18:12 EDT 2008

I think the dominating latency factor is going to the satellite, and will
also be the bottleneck on throughput.  So, I do not think it matters much
where the server is as long as it is on a highspeed connection somewhere.  

Guessing there are optimal work flow changes that need to be switchable
based on whether the picture would be reviewed in country or out of country
in the long term system architecture.  (e.g. upload all of the pictures at
night to a fast server and leave them only at CIDRZ HQ during the day if no
one is going to use them outside of Zambia).

Thanks
J

-----Original Message-----
From: cidrz-bounces at mit.edu [mailto:cidrz-bounces at mit.edu] On Behalf Of
andresmh at media.mit.edu
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 1:10 PM
To: cidrz at mit.edu
Subject: Re: [Cidrz] FW: CIDRZ and GPRS data

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/
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Cidrz mailing list
> > > 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

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