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In collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), the project known as the
Caribbean University Network (CUNet), was formally launched in September of 1991. During
its Phase I, CUNet facilitated access to electronic mail, for the first time, to many
universities and institutions in the Caribbean. Currently, there are many nodes in the
subregion connecting several users within the CUNet framework to the server at UPR via
dial-up. (See graphics)
At present, many Caribbean countries are connected to the Internet through commercial
service providers, mainly the national telecommunications companies (PTT), including
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, St.
Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago, among others.
Within CUNet's Phase II, the OAS is providing significant funds to the Caribbean
countries for equipment, technical assistance and training of network managers, to
facilitate the interconnection of many academic and scientific institutions to the
Internet.
More detail about CUNet, click
here.
 
ANTIGUA
Basic equipment and software was provided to the University of Health and Sciences for
the implementation of the first electronic node, facilitating mail exchange via dial-up.
Negotiations are being held to evaluate further expansion of the electronic node and the
interconnection of more institutions to full Internet.
BAHAMAS
Extensive negotiations were held to install the first CUNet node at the College of the
Bahamas (COB), facilitating electronic mail exchange. Recently, important funding was
provided to the College for the purchase of a high capacity router, a communications
server and communications hardware and software. The equipment will facilitate the
expansion and interconnection to the Internet of the College's Local Area Network (LAN).
BARBADOS
At the beginning of CUNet, the OAS closely worked with the University of the West
Indies (UWI) to facilitate their access to electronic mail for the first time.
RedHUCyT/CUNet provided basic equipment for this objective. In addition, RedHUCyT/CUNet
recently provided funding to the Barbados Community College (BCC) for the purchase of
three workstations to interconnect the Hospitality Institution, the Division of Health
Sciences and the Division of Liberal Arts and Commerce outside the College campus. Also,
in collaboration with the former OAS Department of Education, significant funds were
provided to the College for the expansion of its Local Area Network (LAN).
BELIZE
Extensive negotiations with university representatives and telecommunications
providers provided the framework to implement a project that involved important funding
for the purchase of a server, computer equipment and communications hardware, for the
University College of Belize (UCB). The equipment facilitated the University's access to
full Internet connectivity. Originally, basic equipment was provided for the
implementation of a CUNet electronic node at UCB. In addition, RedHUCyT sponsored a
Schools Internet Workshop at the Corozal Community College in Belize, on March 1997, with
the collaboration of the Belize Telecommunications Limited (BTL) and the University
College of Belize (UCB). During the workshop, several network managers received hands-on
training on computers and telecommunications, including configuration of hardware and
software programming. The success of the training workshop and continuing negotiations
conducted by RedHUCyT/CUNet encouraged the design of a project submitted by the Ministry
of Education to fund high-tech communications equipment for the interconnection of many
high-level schools. The project is currently being implemented.
In coordination with the Office of Science and Technology, RedHUCyT/CUNet provided
communications equipment to the University College of Belize (UCB) for its connection to
the Internet, including a router, a work station, high speed modems and additional
hardware and software.
Also, significant funds were provided to carry out a workshop for network managers in
Belize were obligated. The workshop was held at the Corozal Community College and was
organized in Coordination with the University College of Belize and the Belize
Telecommunications Limited. Several experts from the country participated. The success of
this workshop encouraged some schools of higher education to organize and develop a
project for their interconnection to Internet. RedHUCyT obligated important funds for this
purpose.
In recognition to the financial and technical assistance given to Belize by the OAS
through the REDHUCyT project, the Belize Postal Service released in July 22, 1998, stamps
in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the OAS.
On issuing the stamps  the Postal Service of Belize made the
following remarks:
"The OAS Provides Funds, Computer Equipment and Training for Schools and the
Internet in Belize.
In a project begun in 1997, the Organization of American States provided Computer
Equipment and Training to enable Belize High Schools to link to the Internet via the free
connection provided to each school. 32 High Schools and affiliated Institutions were
included in this project and each school received Networking Components, and a Modem to
link their Computer labs to the Internet. The OAS also funded Training with two workshops
in Corozal and Belize City, with provision for a third. There is also an electronic forum
for discussing ideas and problems of a technical or non-technical nature for all
schools."
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DOMINICA
RedHUCyT/CUNet negotiated with interested Internet providers and government and
university representatives the possibility of establishing Internet connectivity in the
country. A project submitted through Ministry of Finance involved significant funding for
the interconnection of the School of Continuing Studies of the University of the West
Indies, the Clifton Dupigny Community College, and other academic institutions.
RedHUCyT/CUNet's funding will facilitate the purchase of computer equipment and
communications software and hardware for each institution.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
RedHUCyT/CUNet originally provided basic communications equipment to
the Catholic University (PUCMM) to implement its first electronic node for mail exchange.
During 1997, RedHUCyT/CUNet conducted extensive negotiations with government and university
representatives to design a project for the full Internet connection of many institutions
of the Red Universitaria Dominicana Académica y Científica (RUDAC), including: the
Catholic University (PUCMM), the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), the
Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC), CONES, UNAPEC, among others. The project
was the result of extensive negotiations with government and university representatives,
involving significant funding for the purchase of several high-capacity routers, including
a CISCO 7206, modems and additional communications hardware and software. The project has received technical advice and
support from NSRC from the University of Oregon. The
institutions are fully Internet connected. For more information please refer to RUDAC's
web page at INTEC: http://www.rudac.net.do
RedHUCyT also provided technical assistance for the design of the Informatics Program
for Education (PIE) submitted to the OAS by the government of the Dominican Republic. The
objective of PIE was to implement 15 laboratories in diverse schools interconnected to the
Internet. The schools would be located in areas of the country with scarce resources and
large population, thus, the social impact of the project would be very important. The
Ministry of Education implemented the project.
The First Network Technology Workshop of the Red
Universitaria Dominicana Académica y Científica (RUDAC)
was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, September 20-23, 1999. In this event, networking professionals discussed about
TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, Security issues, Apache Server, IP routing, among other
topics.
The OAS, through RedHUCyT, the Network Startup Resource
Center (NSRC) of the University of
Oregon, and the Red Universitaria Dominicana Académica y Científica (RUDAC),
organized this seminar that was held at the Pontificia Universidad Católica
Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santo Domingo. CISCO
Systems and O’Reilly &
Associates also sponsored this event. CISCO Systems lent routers, and
O’Reilly & Associates donated about 300 books that were distributed
among the participants.
The support of the OAS, through RedHUCyT, to this event was part of a
commitment of this Organization to expand Internet connections to the Member
States.
GRENADA
A project for the interconnection of the Marryshow Community College, three
skill-training centers (NEWLO, St. Davis and St. Patricks), the National Science and
Technology Center, and the University Center of the University of the west Indies, among
others, was recently approved. Extensive negotiations were held with government and
university representatives and Internet providers. The project will involve the purchase
of computer equipment and communications hardware and software for each institution.
GUYANA
The OAS RedHUCyT/CUNet provided the University of Guyana with the necessary basic
equipment and technical assistance to setup its first electronic node. Recently, funding
was provided for the purchase of computer equipment for the expansion of the local node
and to facilitate access to mail exchange from other areas of the University.
HAITI
Negotiations are being held with representatives of the government of Haiti to
evaluate alternatives for the interconnection of academic institutions to the
Internet.
JAMAICA
Equipment and technical assistance were provided through RedHUCyT/CUNet for the
implementation of the Jamaican Network (JAMNet),
helping Jamaica to be connected to full Internet, for the first time, through a 64Kbps
satellite link between Kingston and the United States. The connection was set up during
September 1994, interconnecting the University of the West Indies Mona (UWI); the College
of Arts, Science, and Technology (CAST) and many other institutions which have dial-up
links to UWI or CAST. Recently, an earth station for satellite communication
was provided to UWI to allow expansion of their network.
ST. KITTS & NEVIS
Computer equipment and communications hardware and software were provided through
RedHUCyT/CUNet to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Community Affairs for the
implementation of an electronic node for dial-up communications. Additional equipment and
modems were provided to the College for Further Education for its electronic CUNet node.
ST. LUCIA
In collaboration with the former OAS Department of Education, significant funds were
provided to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC, http://www.salcc.edu.lc
) in St. Lucia. Computers,
communications equipment and software were provided to SALCC for the expansion of its
Local Area Network (LAN) and its interconnection to the Internet. Also, RedHUCyT/CUNet
supported through equipment and technical assistance the implementation of the first
electronic node at the Institute for Self Improvement (ISIS), facilitating the exchange of
electronic mail through the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in Vancouver, Canada.
ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
RedHUCyT/CUNet provided modems, serial cards, and additional hardware and software for
the implementation of an electronic node at the Ministry of Communications and Works, to
facilitate electronic mail exchange via dial-up, to the server of the Commonwealth of
Learning (COL) in Vancouver, Canada. In addition, computer equipment, modems and software
was provided to expand the electronic access to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of
Planning and the School of Continuing Studies at the University of the West Indies.
SURINAME
The University of Suriname established its first electronic node during 1993.
RedHUCyT/CUNet assisted the University with funding to cover partial non-recurrent
communications expenses as well as some basic hardware and software. Negotiations with
university and government representatives are being held to support a full Internet
connection of academic institutions in the country.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
RedHUCyT/CUNet is engaged in negotiations with government and academic representatives
and has delivered technical assistance to develop a project to interconnect the National
Institute of Higher Education (NIHERST), the University of the West Indies, the Ministry
of Education and other institutions to the Internet. Significant funds were provided for
the purchase of high-tech communications equipment, including routers and modems, as well
as technical assistance. The project is currently being implemented. Originally, during
CUNet's Phase I, equipment was provided to the University of the West Indies to setup the
first electronic node for communications via dial-up.
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