CACM June 1999: Emerging Internet Infrastructures Worldwide

["Irfan Khan" <KhanIA@super.net.pk>]

The cover story of the June 1999 issue of "Communications of the ACM" 
[http://www.acm.org/cacm/0699/0699toc.html] is "Emerging Internet 
Infrastructures Worldwide".


In the Editorial Pointers, Diane Crawford (Executive Editor) gives an 
overview of this issue: 

> <quote>
THE Internet's roots may be planted firmly in U.S. soil, but its 
branches now embrace the world, connecting cultures and, thus, 
reordering our sociological structure on the grandest scale of all. 
We're only just beginning to sense the potency of this phenomenon. 
Indeed, by the time you finish this month's special section, I'm sure 
you'll agree the Net is just starting to scratch the global surface.
Our focus is the global telecommunications infrastructure, 
particularly as it emerges in China, India, Haiti, Kenya, Thailand, 
and the rest of the developing world. Guest editor Milton Mueller, 
working with Communications' senior editor Andy Rosenbloom, has 
coordinated a series of articles that take us on a worldwide journey 
of telco advancements and possibilities. The authors offer progress 
reports as well as point out the intangible economic, political, and 
technological impact these nations will increasingly pose to the 
infrastructure of the Net.

Mueller contends the U.S-centric nature of the Internet is facing a 
massive facelift. Until that happens, he warns, "we do not really 
know what the Internet is or what it can do."

THE global groundwork discussion travels beyond the special section 
to such topics as the amazing potential of limitless bandwidth. 
Chatterjee and Pawlowski examine all-optical networks, calling the 
technology a strong candidate for widespread use as the worldwide 
infrastructure grows. In "International Perspectives," Richard Heeks 
analyzes software strategies in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the 
Caribbean.
> <end quote>


I have only read one article (see below), but here is an attempt to 
list articles from the June 1999 issue that *seem* relevant to the S-
Asia-IT mailing list:


- Ben Petrazzini and Mugo Kibati, "The Internet in Developing 
Countries"

- Robert B. Cohen, "Moving Toward a Non-U.S.-centric International 
Internet"

- P.K. Agarwal, "Building India's National Internet Backbone"

- Richard B. Heeks, "International Perspectives: Software Strategies 
in Developing Countries"


I was able to access one of the articles ("The Internet in Developing 
Countries") this morning. Minutes ago, when i tried to access the 
same article, it asked for access password. It turns out that access 
is available for ACM members and those who pay a registration fee. 
Apparently, the access was open/free this morning. 

irfan