Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed
Deputy Director General
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO)
Introduction
 Internet today is a widespread information infrastructure and
its influence is not only on computer communication but
other fields of society
 Network for collaboration and interaction between
individuals and their computers
 Convergence of all kinds of communication networks
 Applications, Usage and Benefits of RENs or their consortium
Background
 NRENs and Consortium of RENs - A new paradigm of Internet
 RENs – a network for collaborative research and network to
research for future internet and its applications
 Major Consortia of RENs around the World
 APAN
 GEANT
 TEIN, EUMEDCONNECT, CAREN, AfricaConnect
 AERN
 RedCLARA/ ALICE
 Internet2
 CA*Net
 GLORIAD
 ASREN
Why Research & Education
Networks (RENs)?
 Facilitation to research community
 scientists who need easy access to Supercomputers
 researchers requiring access to information Grids
 business owners requiring most recent economic data
 other users requiring information relevant to them
 Facilitation to academic community
 educationists needing communication network for their pedagogical
purposes
 serving students and learners through contemporary technologies
 bringing together experts in different pedagogical approaches that
contribute towards education understanding in diverse societies.
Few Examples of RENs
 ORION – Canada
 high-speed fiber optic network that connects Ontario's research and education institutions
to one another.
 CalREN – USA
 CENIC's California Research and Education Network (CalREN) is an advance networkservices fabric serving the vast majority of educational and research institutions.
 RNP – Brazil
 Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa (RNP) is an advanced network for collaboration and
communication in the fields of teaching and research.
 UKERNA/ JANET – UK
 network dedicated to the needs of education and research in the UK.
 PERN – Pakistan
 high speed Internet and Intranet facilities to the research and academic institutes.
 SingAREN – Singapore
 ensuring that Singapore research and education (R&E) community is connected to the
international R&E community.
 AARNET – Australia
 high-capacity leading-edge Internet services for the tertiary education and research sector
communities and their research partners.
Consortium of RENs
Participants/
Universities
Regional
North America
400+
281
38
11
Internet2,
CAnet3
South America
600
12
CLARA
Europe
3500
40
GEANT
Africa
100+
9+
AERN
500
3000
56
4
13
2
CAREN,
APAN
Continent
Asia
Australia
Interconnected
through
Bridging the Consortia
 GLORIAD
 ALICE
 Africa Connect
 CAREN
 ORIENT
 TEIN
 EUMEDConnect
Bringing Benefits to Society
 Telemedicine
 Astronomy
 High Energy Physics
 Bio-Informatics
 Predicting Natural Disaster
 Combating Environmental Change
 Agriculture
 Arts and Culture
 Distant Education
 ....
Concept/Model
 Establishment of R&E connectivity between all the Islamic
countries.
 A network-of-networks spread over four continents
primarily in Africa, Euro-Asia and Asia/Middle East.
 Interconnectivity
can be made possible through
establishment of Peering Points at least in those
countries where the existing ICT infrastructure is on
strong footings.
 Proposition based on prevailing infrastructure and their
geographical suitability.
Establishment of Peering Points
Map of Islamic World – Eurasia/ Western Asian Region.
Map of Islamic World – African Region.
Map of Islamic World – Eastern Asian Region.
ISESCO Country Coordinators for
PIREN
 A meeting was held during 19 – 20 March, 2012; at ISESCO’s
Headquarters; Rabat – Kingdom of Morocco
 Kingdom of Morocco; Arab Republic of Egypt; Islamic Republic of
Pakistan; Islamic Republic of Iran; Republic Senegal; Republic
Kazakhstan; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
 Discussed:
 Bird eyes on existing Global REN.
 Potential of regional cooperation
 Countries and regional activities
 Potential of establishment of PIREN
 Recommending ISESCO as a hub for the implementation of PIERN
Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education
 On 20-21 November 2012; Islamic Conference of the Ministries of
Higher Education and Scientific Research in Khartoum; Sudan
endorsed the establishment of PIREN
 Recommend promoting active collaboration among education and
scientific research communities in the Member States to exchange
expertise through the new emerging paradigm of communication
networks in academic and research domains, and effectively
joining the Pan-Islamic Research and Education Network (PIREN) to
leverage joint research and better education
Resolution on Project of PIREN
 Adopts the proposal on the establishment of the “Pan-Islamic Research and Education




Network (PIREN)” within the framework of ISESCO; and invites ISESCO Director
General to take the necessary measures thereon.
Urges the Member States to nominate their country coordinators for PIREN, create
national research and education networks to promote the use of and activate PIREN as
a cyber collaboration platform for scientists, researchers and education networks, and
improve connectivity for sharing knowledge and good practices, stimulating joint
research and addressing relevant challenges.
Recommends provision of reliable contents and data, within the framework of PIREN,
and expanding the scope of associated services and applications in the Member States
for mutual benefit.
Also recommends enhancing capacities and providing technical training opportunities
among the Member States and encouraging them to exchange programmes and
support the establishment of specialized training centres while granting them the
status of PIREN Certified Training Centres.
Calls on telecom operators in the Member States to offer preferential prices to fiber
cables and dedicated circuits intended for educational purposes.
Way Forward…..
 We have to do it
 We need to collaborate with each other to create synergy
 Lets connect, communicate and collaborate
 ISESCO is planning to organize second meeting of country
coordinators and other stake holders during 2013 to
finalize and start the project.
 All kinds of inputs/suggestions are welcome
Thanks for your attention
www.isesco.org.ma