1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This paper highlights the possibilities of establishing a global communication networking among all JICA Alumni Associations, JICA Head Office and JICA International Centres world-wide. Thereupon, practical suggestions are made to implement the network. As a pilot project it is suggested that we begin by connecting the Alumni Associations of all the ASEAN countries by Internet, which is currently the world's most popular Information Superhighway System.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 Since 1955, more than 100,000 participants have been sponsored by JICA for job training in Japan. While in Japan, we have acquired various important and diverse skills. The knowledge and experience gained have enhanced our contributions to our own countries. However, since returning home, not many of the ex-participants still communicate with their counterparts overseas, primarily because of the barrier of distance between them.

2.2 As far as we know, JICA is very keen in the aftercare service to ex-participants. Some of the key functions they provide are:-

• Technical Follow-up Teams
• Fostering Alumni Associations
• Supply of Technical Literature
• Equipment Supplies
• Circulation of "Kenshu-in"

3. WHAT IS INTERNET?

3.1 Information technology has reached such an advanced stage that it is now possible for the whole world to communicate conveniently and instantly by computers. Without too much expenditure, JICA can utilise this technology by installing a network to link up its headquarters and all its alumni associations in different countries.

3.3 Electronic Mail

Electronic mail, better known as e-mail, is perhaps the most well-known facility of the Internet. Its usage cost is negligible and yet it offers almost instantaneous communication not only among members of JICA Alumni in different countries but also with the rest of the world. For instance, we can write a note, letter, memo, and so on, to someone across the globe who also has an Internet e-mail address, and vice versa. Under ordinary circumstances, an e-mail message should reach their destination within seconds, and for sure beats the traditional postal delivery system or even fax. E-mail is much better than fax because it can even e-mail to a fax machine, via special e-mail-fax gateway addresses.

3.3 File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

FTP allows us to send or receive data files to and from our personal computer to thousands of sites around the world. This facility allows us to download free software and information from the host computer to our own PC.

3.4 Telnet

Telnet allows us to connect directly with other Internet computers without having to run up long distance telephone charges. The only requirement is that we have to have a computer account on the remote system (i.e. we are an authorised user of the computer). Many libraries in the United States and Europe are accessible via telnet, which allows users to operate a remote computer from their home PC. Similarly JICA can make useful information such as on Japanese books, customs, culture, cuisines, music, technology and arts telnetable. Telnetable computers can hold a huge database of information. Indeed the list of subjects on which such information can be instantly retrieved by JICA ex-participants is virtu- ally unlimited so long as the information is placed on the network.

3.5 UseNet News

UseNet News (or newsgroup) is the biggest Bulletin Board System (BBS) in the world. We can participate in over 4000 different discussion groups or public forums with direct access to some of the most famous and infamous personalities of our times. Need technical support? Ask for help in a related newsgroup. Want to visit Tokyo or need a homestay there? Check out the newsgroup!.

3.6 Archie/gopher/WAIS/WWW

Because of the sheer volume of information available, the most difficult task of the times is locating the specific information you want. Archie is a utility that will help you locate a particular file anywhere in the world. Gopher is an Internet navigation tool providing a menu based format which integrates many of the common Internet services such as FTP, Telnet and newsgroup. WAIS is a tool for searching for information by specifying English-like keyword queries. WAIS will also retrieve full text documents. The WWW service supports all the above with a smooth menu-driven integration of the individual services.

4. BENEFITS OF BEING CONNECTED TO INTERNET

4.1 This paper will discuss the two most beneficial aspects of Internet to the JICA Alumni, namely e-mail and Usenet. Other services will be gains from time to time whenever necessary depends on fields of specialization of the user.

4.3 Usenet News lets you read (and post) messages that have been sent to public "news groups". This may sound obscure, but it's really what everyone else calls "bulletin board" or discussion groups. USENET is the world's largest bulletin board service. Usenet is a great place for the JICA Alumni world-wide as well as the ex-participants themselves to keep in close contact with JICA Head Office, to get updates on the latest happenings of our similar interest and to discuss ideas, share problems and offer solutions. There are a lot of topics related to Japanese culture or technology or even very specific areas such as Japanese cartoons which may be of interest to all ex-participants. Among the existing available topics covered under this category are:

• Social Culture Japan
• The nature of research in Japan
• Japanese animation fan discussion
• Bonsai arts
• All about Japanese comic fanzines
• All aspects of the Japanese storytelling art form
• The Japanese language both spoken & written
• Everything Japanese except Japanese language
• Social Culture ASEAN
• Social Culture Thai
• Social Culture Malaysia
• Social Culture Singapore
• Social Culture Indonesia
• Social Culture Filipinos

4.4 Comparison between communication technique such as telephone, post and e-mail are as below: Communication Techniques

5. Benefits of Speedy Communication: The Singapore and Malaysian Experience

6. EQUIPMENT AND COST

6.1 Hardware

6.2 Software

Almost all the software you'll need to navigate the Internet is free.

6.3 Connection Charges

Connection charge rates differ from country to country depending on the telephone service provider. A complete list of the service providers are in Appendix 1 and details of Service Providers in the ASEAN country and their charges are in Appendix 2.

6.4 Telephone Charges

Since the modems are connected to the telephone line, you can't run away from telephone bills. For the purpose of connection to Internet, a normal telephone or even an extension phone will do. Since there already exist many e-mail nodes in every country which can serve to receive local modem logins, the incremental cost of telephone time usage will be based mainly on the inexpensive local (not overseas) call rates and it should therefore be minimal. Based on surveys done by done by a software company, average e-mail user only use 1.7 hours a month on-line with service provider.

7. PROPOSALS

In view of the tremendous advantage of connection to Internet we would like to propose that

• JICA Headquarters provide a budget to enable all JICA Alumni Associations, JICA Representative Offices and JICA International Centre to apply to their respective service provider in their respective country for an Internet account.
• Since JICA Alumni Malaysia and Singapore can be reached through e-mail, as a pilot project we first implement the Internet facility for the JICA Alumni Associations in all the ASEAN countries.

 B : Stands for Bitnet access *

 E : The country is reachable by E-mail
P : Provisional connection
F : Connected to Internet via Fidonet *
U : Status is unknown
* : Bitnet and Fidonet is another type of network similar to Internet.

1. Thailand

Charges: 500 bath to 2,000 bath

2. Philippines

EMAIL Centre
108 V. Luna Road, Sikatuna Village
Quezon City, Philippines.
Tel:632 921 9976
Email:sysop@phil.gn.apc.org

charges: 1 time charge: P3,000
Deposit : P300
Monthly : P300

Mosaic Communication Inc.
401 Centerpoint Bldg. Ortigas Complex
Pasig, Metro Manila

Charges: P1,000 - P2,500 for first 20 hours connect time.

3. Singapore

TECHNET
National University of Singapore
10 Kent Ridge Cresent
Singapore 0511
Tel:(65)772-3119
Email:help@solomon.technet.sg

charges: S$40.00/month

SINGNET
Singapore Telecom
Charge: S$35.00/month

4. Malaysia

JARING (Joint Advance Research Integrated Networking)
MIMOS, 7th. Floor, Exchange Square
Off Jalan Semantan
50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel:(60)3-254 9601, 255 2700
Fax:(60)3-253 1898, 255 2755
Email:noc@jaring.my

charges RM300.00/year

5. Japan

WIDE
c/a Prof. Jun Murai
KEIO University
5322 Endo, Fujjisawa 252
Japan
Tel:(81) 466 47 5111 ext. 3330
Email:jun@wide.ad.jp

Global Online Japan
Oshime Building 302
1-56-1 Higashi Makano
Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164
Email: info@gol.com

Charge: Y