Page Updated: 12-Nov-2007
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Upgrading Cooperative Area Network
in Tajik Technical University

Networking Infrastructure Grant - NIG 982557

Period 2006-2008 Co-Directors Dr. Karim Arabi Vancouver, Canada karim_arabi@hotmail.com Prof. Sirojiddin Nabiev Dunshabe, Tajikstan nabiev@tarena-ti-org Key links Virtual Silk Highway

This Networking Infrastructure Grant builds a computer network in the Tajik Technical University (TTU) and connects it to the Virtual Silk Highway.

In 2004, a NATO NIG established the wireless network DuSciNet (Dunshanbe Scientific Network) in Dunshanbe, providing about thirty five educational and academical institutions with internet connections. At a later stage, an optical gigabit backbone network, potentially able to fulfill the needs of the academic and educational communities for the following 3 to 4 years, was set up. All the members of TARENA (Research and Education Network of Tajikstan) were connected to the backbone by DSL technology.

However, despite the development of the networking infrastructure, many institutions have not been successful in administrating a centralised and well-organised area network, due to the following reasons:

• some institutions are geographically spread out;
• the cost of the necessary network hardware is unaffordable;
• lack of network architecture designers, administrators and IT specialists.

The Tajik Technical University is one of the institutions facing these problems. Its network administration is decentralised and only 40% of the PC’s are connected to the internet. The aim of this project is to build an effective network in TTU, in order to give the university community the opportunity to deploy new educational technologies, improve the professional level of education and have worldwide access to scientific and educational resources.

The university provides financial support for administration, training and maintenance of the project, while the NIG provides the equipment to set up and upgrade the network.

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