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Asi@Connect project will help bridge digital divide across Asia Pacific: EU envoy
Date
2019-07-18
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5882

ISLAMABAD: European Union (EU) Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain on Monday said the launch of 

the Asi@Connect project in Pakistan would help bridge the digital divide across Asia Pacific and will cast 

a positive impact on efforts to strengthen connectivity for research and higher education in the region.

 


EU Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain speaks at the launching ceremont at the HEC aduditorim in Islamabad

 

He was speaking at a ceremony during which the Higher Education Commission (HEC) launched Asi@Connect, a project that aims to develop a regional high capacity trans-Eurasia information network for research and higher education, in collaboration with the European Union and the Trans Eurasia Information Network Cooperation Centre.

 

The launch was also attended by Federal Education Parliamentary Secretary Wajiha Akram, HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri, 

HEC Executive Director retired Lt Gen Mohammad Asghar and TEIN*CC President Yong Hwan Chung.

 

Mr Cautain said the EU followed certain principles to make strong connectivity between Asia and Europe productive and 

result-oriented. “The principles cover sustainability, transparency, and equal access to all stakeholders,” he said.

 

According to the commission, the project provides dedicated high capacity internet connectivity for research and education 

communities across Asia-Pacific, operating at speeds of up to 10 Gbps, and currently connects universities and research 

centres in 23 countries. It also connects 50 million European researchers and academics served by the GÉANT network, 

the Pan European Data Network for R&E Community.

 

Pakistan’s involvement in the collaboration will encompass work on high energy physics, internet access, e-culture, cyber 

performance, telemedicine, intelligent medical services, software defined network, open flow of OF@TEIN, Eduroam, Edugain 

and Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) development in Asia.

 

Ms Akram spoke about the significance and scope of the partnership with Asi@Connect and said she hoped that the HEC would 

keep playing its role in collaborative engagements with entities like TEIN*CC.

 

In his opening remarks, Dr Banuri said that the globally connected world has brought about great opportunities which could 

not be dreamt of in the past. Highlighting HEC’s initiatives for improved connectivity, he said that HEC has invested highly in 

ICT and enhanced connectivity.

 

Mr Chung said the launch of Asi@Connect in Pakistan will help Pakistan’s education community and researchers find new 

avenues and means to connect with researchers from across Asia and Europe. “The advanced technologies and researches 

through the project will ultimately contribute to prosperity of the entire Asia Pacific and Europe,” he said.

 

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2019


Download Asi@Connect Launch in Pakistan_09July2019.pdf