D4: Using Networks for Collaborative Learning

Development of WWW Services in Mexico, Toward a National Information Infrastructure

Fernandez, Jeffry ( jeff@jeff.dca.udg.mx)

Abstract

The first World Wide Web Mosaic in Mexico started at the end of 1993, at this moment it have had a dramatic impact in the development of services on the Mexican Internet, Web servers have been growing at an average of 5 or 6 new servers every month making a total of 35 (January 1995).

In Mexico the high costs of telecommunications have been an obstacle to link more educational and business institutions to the Internet. Since WWW Mosaic have become more popular, the interest of the business community have grown, but very few have pay all the costs for a permanent Internet link. Current situation with the "Peso" devaluation makes more difficult for business to be part of the Net.

Two WWW servers are dedicated to be as commercial services providers, where it participates several companies that offers products and services. One of them is an Internet shopping mall.

Since 1994, the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) have financed a national backbone with the cooperation of universities located in the main cities of Mexico who are part of Mexnet, the first nation wide Mexican network. With the participation of CONACYT and the upgrade of the backbone from 64 kilobits to 2 megabits, a new organization have been established with the name "National Technological Network" (RTN), who acts as the main Internet access provider for business institutions.

There are several projects for regional networks all around the country, one of them that covers part of the central and western region with the name "Red de Computo Centro-Occidente" (REDCCO) have received financial support to develop an information system that links libraries and general information about six universities, each one located in different states.

The paper also present a prospective view of the development of services trough WWW and the possibilities of new projects to improve education and business practices. In 1996 the long distance market will be open to new companies besides Telmex with a significative reduction of costs making new opportunities.