Working in Latin America Working in Latin America Tales from on the RoadTales from on the Road

Walt MagnussenWalt MagnussenAssociate Director for TelecommunictionsAssociate Director for Telecommunictions

Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University8 May 20028 May 2002

Major Activities in MexicoMajor Activities in Mexico

TAMU opens center in Mexico – facilitates collaborative TAMU opens center in Mexico – facilitates collaborative projects.projects.

. Relationship with CONACYT (National Council on . Relationship with CONACYT (National Council on Science and Technology)Science and Technology) Texas A&M Center in Mexico is Texas A&M Center in Mexico is legally registered with CONACYT as a Mexican institution legally registered with CONACYT as a Mexican institution in Mexico. in Mexico.

Cooperation in Mexico’s Internet 2 network (CUDI) Cooperation in Mexico’s Internet 2 network (CUDI) including attempt to establish second border crossing in including attempt to establish second border crossing in Texas.Texas.

Researchers at TAMU currently working with all CUDI Researchers at TAMU currently working with all CUDI institutions in varying capacities.institutions in varying capacities.– Architecture and Veterinary – UNAMArchitecture and Veterinary – UNAM– Wildlife and Fisheries ITESMWildlife and Fisheries ITESM– Education – PolytechEducation – Polytech

Latin America – relationship with Latin America – relationship with IICAIICA

Organized under United Nations to provide Organized under United Nations to provide Agricultural Research and Education in all Agricultural Research and Education in all 32 Western Hemispheric nations.32 Western Hemispheric nations.

Headquarter in San Jose, Costa RicaHeadquarter in San Jose, Costa Rica 5 Regional offices5 Regional offices Office in each member nationOffice in each member nation

Initiative began with an MOU between TAMU Initiative began with an MOU between TAMU and IICA to provide technical and academic and IICA to provide technical and academic

support. Projects include:support. Projects include: Development of Distance Development of Distance

Education Center modeled Education Center modeled after Center for Distance after Center for Distance Learning Research Learning Research (CDLR) at TAMU.(CDLR) at TAMU.

Site studies and Site studies and installations in Chile, Peru, installations in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, Bolivia, Columbia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Barbados, Costa Rica, Barbados, Costa Rica, Mexico.Mexico.

Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura

Site SurveysSite Surveys

Involved communications with local Telcos, Involved communications with local Telcos, competative companies where available and competative companies where available and large private networks as partners.large private networks as partners.

Technical Lessons learnedTechnical Lessons learned

Fiber is often more readily available than it is in Fiber is often more readily available than it is in the US. Copper plant usually in bad shape.the US. Copper plant usually in bad shape.

Digital services such as ISDN often available and Digital services such as ISDN often available and cheap.cheap.

Telcos more willing to partner – i.e. MCU in Telcos more willing to partner – i.e. MCU in Columbia. Not as bound by regulation as in the Columbia. Not as bound by regulation as in the US. Forces you to think out of the box.US. Forces you to think out of the box.

Business cases of most projects more detailed.Business cases of most projects more detailed.

Managerial Lessons LearnedManagerial Lessons Learned

Negotiate rates in currency most favorable.Negotiate rates in currency most favorable. Be aware of Homologation IssuesBe aware of Homologation Issues Never underestimate the time that it takes to Never underestimate the time that it takes to

deal with customs – Costa Ricadeal with customs – Costa Rica Language was much less of an issue than I Language was much less of an issue than I

anticipated.anticipated.

CUDI Border CrossingCUDI Border Crossing

Tijuana

Guadalajra

Mexico City

UCSD

UCLA

AbileneNetwork

Other LessonsOther Lessons

NOC Interaction – Meeting held at Joint NOC Interaction – Meeting held at Joint Techs in Tempe between CUDI NOC, Techs in Tempe between CUDI NOC, CALRen NOC and Abilene NOC.CALRen NOC and Abilene NOC.

Need for network monitoring tools.Need for network monitoring tools. Border crossing is the most difficult issue.Border crossing is the most difficult issue. Interaction with Telco at NOC level is often Interaction with Telco at NOC level is often

issue.issue.

The world is a shrinking place due The world is a shrinking place due partly to communications efforts led partly to communications efforts led

by the international Internet2 by the international Internet2 CommunityCommunity

Walt MagnussenWalt Magnussen Telecom@Tamu.eduTelecom@Tamu.edu 979-845-5588979-845-5588