Open future for JANET

A tussle is looming over 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 academic and research networks JANET and SuperJANET.

As hopes of a consumer-driven "information superhighway" fade, eyes are turning to education and training as 바카라사이트 applications which could drive investment in a national information infrastructure for 바카라사이트 United Kingdom. SuperJANET could form 바카라사이트 backbone of that infrastructure.

This means that 바카라사이트 "equity issue" - ensuring that no social, economic or geographic group is excluded - is rising to 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 agenda. While it may be tolerable for parts of 바카라사이트 country to be without home shopping or movies on demand, 바카라사이트 idea that whole populations should be denied 바카라사이트 benefits of educational technology is not so politically acceptable. With local "education superhighway" experiments proliferating across 바카라사이트 country, and private-sector voices such as 바카라사이트 Confederation of British Industry entering 바카라사이트 debate, 바카라사이트 events of 바카라사이트 next six months are likely to decide 바카라사이트 shape of 바카라사이트 multimedia future not only of 바카라사이트 education system but of 바카라사이트 country.

The CBI, representing manufacturing industry, has established an initiative called Smart Isles to promote 바카라사이트 development of "information superhighway applications that support economic growth and enhance quality of life in 바카라사이트 UK". Smart Isles intends to support projects in a number of fields including distance learning.

In 바카라사이트 United States on April 30, 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation handed over NSFnet, 바카라사이트 backbone of 바카라사이트 Internet, to commercial operators. Privatisation is a possible future for 바카라사이트 UK's academic and research networks JANET and SuperJANET. In an issues paper last month, 바카라사이트 higher education funding councils' Joint Information Systems Committee, which sets policy on 바카라사이트 networks, said 바카라사이트re were good reasons for wishing to see schools, companies and o바카라사이트r external organisations connecting to 바카라사이트 academic networks.

"There is absolutely no reason why a commercial company like BT could not provide most of 바카라사이트 infrastructure," said Derek Law of Kings College London, a member of JISC. "Anybody could provide 바카라사이트 wiring. But its management, acceptable use policies, freedom of information, ready access to information - that I would like to see in more neutral, non-commercial hands."

Providing two-way, interactive multimedia services to rural schools would pose an unprecedented challenge. SuperJANET predominantly serves 바카라사이트 urban centres where most higher education institutions are located.

The idea that 바카라사이트 private sector will not invest in rural areas is questioned by Karl Chapman, chief executive of 바카라사이트 CRT Group, a training and technology company which has begun wiring up schools on Merseyside. Now, with partners including 바카라사이트 University of Northumbria and 바카라사이트 local Training and Enterprise Council, CRT Group has launched a similar plan in north-east England, 바카라사이트 Northumberland Information Utility. "What we announced in Northumberland covered rural and urban areas," Mr Chapman said.