Last update at http://inet.nttam.com : Wed May 10 13:11:37 1995 UNIBEL - Academic and Research Network of Belarus Sergei KRITSKY, Byelorussian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, 6 Brovka Str., 220600 Minsk, Republic Belarus e-mail: kritsky@ok.minsk.by fax: +7 (0172) 20 61 34 phone: +7 (0172) 20 61 34 Andrey IVANOV, Open Contact Ltd., P.O.Box 286, 220004 Minsk, Republic Belarus e-mail: ivanov@ok.minsk.by fax: +7 (0172) 20 61 34 Nikolay Listopad, Computer and Analytical Center of Ministry of Education and Science of Republic Belarus 16 Korolya Street, 220004 Minsk, Republic Belarus e-mail: listopad@cacedu.minsk.by phone: +7 (0172) 20 99 76 Abstract: The current state of global networking in Belarus is briefly considered. The UNIBEL Network - the network for Byelorussian academic and research community is described. Keywords: Internet, Belarus, Byelorussia, Academic and Research Networking 1. INTRODUCTION The situation with research and academic networking in Belarus is critical. Several efforts being pursued by different institutions and private persons, but they are facing financial problems and bureaucratic barriers. Additonally, there is also a problem with lack of agreement and coordination of such efforts. Most of these problems are an inheritance of "communist society"; the others are a result of current economic crisis. The UNIBEL Network is designed to overcome these difficulties and provide Byelorussian science and education with a viable network. 2. UNIBEL: CURRENT STATUS The works on the development of scientific and educational computer telecommunications began in Belarus in 1992. At the first stage, the network node was created by Open Contact, Ltd. and Computer and Analytical Center of Ministry of Education and Science of Republic Belarus, that node was providing a number of institutes and universities as well as some government and public organizations with an access to the EUnet/Relcom network through low-speed dial-up line ISKRA. The set of available services was limited by electronic mail, teleconferences and other services, based on UUCP (UNIX to UNIX Copy Protocol). In 1993 the works were activated. The central UNIBEL node was set up, the number of the users was considerably enlarged. Besides, the preliminary preparations were made to create Ministry's network (EDUBEL) for the management purposes of the National Education System. In December, 1993 the UNIBEL Network was registered in RIPE (Reseaux IP Europeens) and IP-numbers were assigned. In 1994 UNIBEL took the responsibility for the coordination of the national address domain BY (top-level domain). In this work Belarus was helped a great deal by Academic and Research Network of Poland NASK (primary server was run by NASK), Russian Academic Network FREEnet (secondary server), Ukrainian Academic and Research Network UARNET. In March, 1994 Laboratory of Computer Telecommunications was created by Ministry of Education and Science to research the problems of developing and using global computer networks in the National Education System of Belarus. From the beginning of 1994, additionally to Moscow dial-up line (to EUNet/Relcom), the dial-up line ISKRA to the UARNET Network (Lvov, Ukraine) was established. Since 1994 the representatives of UNIBEL are actively working on establishing international contacts. Now UNIBEL represents the interests of Belarus in European Academic and Research Network (EARN Association), Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association (TERENA), Central and Eastern European Networking Association (CEENet). One of the most important results of the international cooperation was the establishing of the direct connection between central UNIBEL network node and Warshaw NASK node by means of the dedicated 19.2 Kbps line. This line was established owing to the great financial and organizational support of the NASK Network (Poland). The establishing of this connection was an event of the greatest importance for the Byelorussian academic and research community. Since this moment a full access to full Internet services and resources has been opened. That means a free access to the huge information and other resources of the computer networks all over the world. This international chanal to Internet is still the only in Belarus. Currently UNIBEL joins the most advanced university and research institutes providing them with full Internet services. More than 50 academic and research institutions are planned to be connected to UNIBEL by the end of August 1995. 3. OTHER NETWORKS OPERATING IN BELARUS Several public and commercial global computer networks are presently working on the territory of Republic Belarus. The most advanced networks operating in the territory of Byelorussia are following: BelPAK At present the Ministry of Communication and Informatics of Republic Belarus (Byelorussian PTT - Minsvjaz) is developing national data network BelPAK based on X.25 protocol. This network presupposes intensive centralization and governmental control. Such centralization is a consequence of a policy of strict monopoly by Minsviaz. The gist of this policy is quite simple: all international connections must be done only through BelPAK. The only exception is the UNIBEL's Internet connectivity. The services of this network are be quite expensive but not aimed to meet the requirements of science, culture and education. BelPAK is first of all intended to meet the needs of large commercial, industrial and governmental institutions. The BelPAK network services are not realistically accssesible for academic and research institutions. Sprint Powerful commercial network SprintNet operates in the countries of the former Soviet Union more or less actively, but not in Belarus. To date there is only one SprintNet node in Minsk that has four telephone entries and provides users with various services. The Minsk node is the only organization in Belarus leasing a dedicated line to Moscow under the strict conditions of Minsvjaz. Therefore the services of the SprintNet are very expensive and are not currently available for Byelorussian science and education. GlasNet GlasNet is a public international network providing users with quite limited but low-cost services (basically e-mail). There are about 15 users of GlasNet at present. It has the only network node in Minsk connected to Moscow Glasnet node via dial-up line by means of special communication software. EUnet/Relcom EUnet/Relcom is the most active international commercial network operating in the former USSR countries. There are some network nodes in Minsk, Gomel and Vitebsk. The EUnet/Relcom node in Minsk is the most active one and provides about 100 users (institutional as well as private) with e-mail, access to USENET, and some information services etc. Due to its reasonable prices EUnet/Relcom is quite popular with "middle-range" commercial and industrial companies and private businessmen as well as state and government bodies. The greater part of Byelorussian EUnet/Relcom users are universities, institutes and other academic and reseach institutions. Currently EUnet/Relcom is the only network which is more or less appropriate for purposes of science and education in Byelorussia. UNIBEL network has a direct access to EUnet/Relcom services. Sovam Teleport Commercial data network Sovam-Teleport is powerful one, providing more or less wide set of services. The Minsk node gives an access to X.25 networks as well as to limited Internet through the BelPAK lines. The services of this network are rather expensive and are not appropriate for science and education. SITEK SITEK is more of a commercial information system than a network in the strict sense of the word. It is a kind of extended BBS providing e-mail service through EUnet/Relcom network as an additional function. FIDONET There are about 50 voluntary nodes of FIDONET in Belarus, most of them in Minsk. BASNET The network of Academy of Science of Belarus- BASNET - is intended to meet requirements of it's own research institutes. The Academy of Science is a very special organization, a closed system of strictly specialized research institutes and some other organizations (46 institutions). The BASNET Network provides the Academy's institutions with services of e-mail and access to international networks through BelPAK network using X.25 protocol. BASNET has no direct international connectivity, no access to Internet. Currently UNIBEL helps BASNET with e-mail traffic through dial-up line between UNIBEL and BASNET network nodes. BYEARN (EARN/BITNET NODE) One of the most successful team in Belarus is EARN Network node (BYEARN) established at Research Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer of Academy of Science. BYEARN provides several research institutes with an access to BITNET over NJE protocol. It is establishing a dedicated line to Russian Academic Network FREEnet in Moscow. In the future this line will be also used for Internet access (TCP/IP). Besides these networks there are some companies that can provide any type of information and/or communication services, such as RIKO, the system giving a possibility of using its own commercial data bases and services of BBS, etc. Generally such systems are available by means of standard communication software. UNIBEL keeps tight contacts and cooperates with all networking teams and service providers in Belarus. The results of such cooperation are as follows: - direct IP-connection is established between UNIBEL and EUnet/Relcom nodes; - dedicated line is being established to the BYEARN node and agreement on mutual using of the dedicated line BYEARN-FREEnet is concluded; - dedicated line is also being established between UNIBEL and BASNET nodes; this will alow the users of BASNET to get full Internet services in the nearest future; - an agreement between BelPAK and UNIBEL will be concluded to resolve some problems with the coordination Top Level Domain BY and to provide the users of UNIBEL with an access to X.25 services. 4. UNIBEL: ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS MINSK BACKBONE One of the most important project UNIBEL is involved is to establish Minsk Backbone Infrastructure intented to play the role of Byelorussian Internet Exchange. It will be based on existing fiber-optic lines (more than 200 km of fiber-optic lines). An agreement on mutual using these lines is concluded between Ministry of Education and Science, UNIBEL and Minsk City Telephone Company. The next stage of developing the UNIBEL networking infrastructure is a creating regional network nodes in the most advanced regional institutions as well as the periphery. At least 5 well equiped nodes are needed to establish the backbone structure of the UNIBEL network. Currently Byelorussian universities and research institutes have the needed potential to start working in the UNIBEL Network but the equipment installed at these institutions is rather outdated, however. INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY 19.2 Kbps capacity seems to be enough to start the work, to give research and educational institutions the opportunity to try Internet. But not enough for real work. UNIBEL's Internet connectivity is planned to be replaced by 64 Kbps satellite connectivity (TELE-X, Swedish Space Corporation) by the end of July 1995. This project is actively supported by CEENet and some other international organizations. NATIONAL WORLD WIDE WEB CENTER UNIBEL has already established WWW Home Pages - first WWW sever in Belarus. The next step is to establish Republican WWW Center. The main goal of the Center are proliferation of hipermedia technology, training and education, coordination within Belarus with the development information systems and data bases. This project is supported by some commercial and public organizations. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "INTERNET IN BELARUS. NETWORKING FOR EDUCATION AND SCIENCE" The Conference was held in Minsk 5-7 April, 1995. It was organized by Ministry of Education and Science, United States Information Service, UNIBEL and Byelorussian State Politechnical Academy. The main goal of the Conference was to introduce and demonstrate worldwide Internet power and outline Internet perspectives in Belarus. It was intended for educators, scientists and educational administration, not only for professional networkers. Internet connectivity (19.2 Kbps) was available at the Conference and the UNIBEL Network was presented. The Conference was not only Internet show, but actualy working meeting. All Byelorussian networking teams were presented. About 600 participants attended the Conference. The greatest result of the Conference is that UNIBEL is officialy recognized as National Academic and Research Network by Ministry of Education and Science. Other important result is the coopetration. UNIBEL established working contacts with a lot of institutions. Now more then 30 academic, research, public and government institutios are being connected to UNIBEL. EDUBEL NETWORK Currently the Ministry of Education and Science (Laboratory of Computer Telecommunications) in cooperation with UNIBEL is developing a Republican computer network for administrative purposes - EDUBEL Network. It is intended to unite central and regional bodies of the Ministry of Education and Science as well as administrative staff of educational institutions. The EDUBEL network is a basis of telecommunication infrastructure for the Ministry's computer-aided management system. It will be a rather closed system oriented toward governmental authorities rather than scientists or professors. UNIBEL will provide users of EDUBEL with an access to Intenet through its international lines. INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY FOR SCHOOLS UNIBEL is closely involved in several projects devoted on providing Byelorussian elementary and secondary schools with an access to Internet services (mostly e-mail). These projects are supported by Ministry of Education and Science and several international foundations as well. One of the most interesting project in this sphere is Internet Club. It is organized by Byelorussian State Polytecnical Academy and the UNIBEL Network. Internet Club is supported by United States Information Service in Minsk, Eurasia Foundation, Byelorussian Soros Foundation and Ministry of Education and Science of Republic Belarus. Main goal of the Club is to provide Internet connectivity for elementary and secondary schools in Belarus, mostly in Minsk but on periphery as well. Internet Club is intended to disseminate global networking and Internet ideas, to demonstrate Internet power and capability, to teach teachers, students and educational administration. 4. CONCLUSION UNIBEL has just started its operating and of course the results are rather modest. At present it is the first and the only IP-network in Belarus intended to serve for Byelorussian academic and research community, to provide universities and research institutes with full Internet services. AUTHORS: Sergei Kritsky (kritsky@ok.minsk.by) University degree, Byelorussian State University, 1980. Ph.D., 1989, Minsk Radioengineering Institute. More than 15 years experience in computer science and software engineering. Currently he is engaged in several computer telecommunication projects, acts as Project Coordinator in the UNIBEL Project, represents the interests of Belarus in TERENA and CEENet Associations as deputy representative of UNIBEL. ISOC Member. Andrey Ivanov (ivanov@ok.minsk.by) Graduated from Minsk Institute of Technology, 1985. Director of Open Cotact, Ltd. This company deals with technical and organizing issues of developing the UNIBEL Network. It is also involved in EDUBEL Project devoted on creation a network of Ministry of Education and Science of Belarus for administrative purposes. He represents the interests of Belarus in TERENA, EARN, CEENet. Nikolay Listopad (listopad@cacedu.minsk.by) University degree, Minsk Radioengineering Institute, 1978. Ph.D., 1984, Minsk Radioengineering Institute. Currently he is a leaded executive of telecommunication and information projects in education, acts as Project Head in the EDUBEL Project and involved in the UNIBEL Project.