1. Spring 2004 Internet2 Member Meeting April 19 – 21, 2004 Arlington, VA
CR2Net Experiences: Present and Future of Costa Rica´s Research and Education Network
Spring 2004 Internet2 Member Meeting
April 19 – 21, 2004
Arlington, VA

2. Agenda Some information about Costa Rica
Interest of Costa Rica in the NREN´s
Present state of CR2Net
Main Potential Challenges of Costa Rica

3. Costa Rica Located in Centro America.
Bounded by Nicaragua, the Caribbean Sea, Panama, and by the Pacific
Ocean.
Area (19,714 sq mi).
The capital is San José.

4. Environmental Issues
Costa Rica’s land is protected by one of the most ambitious conservation programs in Central America.
It has also established a booming ecotourism business.
The population of Costa Rica (2003 estimate) is 3,896,092, giving the country an overall population density of 198 persons per sq mi.

5. Education The literacy rate is estimated at 96 percent.
Primary and secondary education is free, and attendance is compulsory between the ages of 6 to 15.
In 2000, 551,465 pupils were enrolled in 3,711 primary schools and 255,600 students attended public and private secondary schools, and 58,000 students attended public universities.

6. Social Services Life expectancy is 77 years.
A national health plan was established in the 1970s.
A social security program has been in operation since 1942
Costa Rica has had no armed forces since The only security forces are the Civil Guard

7. Why does Costa Rica have interest in the NREN´s ?
“Without education people are condemned underdevelopment ”. (Dr.Castro Madríz, 1er. President of CR, 1847)
Interest in gaining access to knowledge
Interest in sharing Costa Rican scientific and intellectual product.
Interest in having access to new technologies and scientific development.

8. Present state of CR2Net The creation of national policies aiming at:
Creating CR2Net and declaring it of public interest in 2001.
Achieving a free broadband of no less than 45Mbps for 7 institutions, of higher Education, Scientific development, as well as the Health and Meteorology Institutes.

9. NATIONAL IP NETWORK

11. Present state of CR2Net continue
An organization body has been created for the management and development of CR2Net.
Is conformed by a Council integrated by the presidents of the main educational and research organizations in the country, and it´s presided over by the Minister of Science and Technology.
The Technical Committee is conformed by a representative of the main organizations of CR2Net.

12. C R 2 N e t National IP Net NREN´s UCR INM CENAT VPN MPLS UNED UNA
switch 3500
switch 3500
switch 3500
VPN
MPLS
UNED
UNA IP IP
National IP Net
CORE
GigaRouter
switch 3500
switch 3500
MegaRuter
45 Mbps
Submarine
Maya - Arcos
CCSS
NREN´s
ITCR IP
switch 3500
switch 3500

13. Main National Tasks
It is in the phase of defining the guidelines for the adequate administration of CR2Net.
It is developing a regulation model that will guarantee its financial sustainability.

14. Main International Challenges
To reach international connectivity through the following Networks:
CLARA
GEANT
INTERNET2
To encourage the scientific community of Costa Rica to participate in the fields of education and research, that are already being developed at the international level.

15. Areas of Research and Contribution
Health
Biotechnology
Biodiversidad
Serum Antiofídicos
Seismology
Veterinary
Tropical Illnesses
State of the Nation/ region.
Research in Studies of Gender
Clean Energy
Sciences of the sea and Limnology
Environmental Contamination
Sustainable Develop.
Software Develop.

16. Links to Consult www.micit.go.cr Ministerio de CyT
Gobierno digital de CR
Academia Nacional de Ciencias
Comercio Exterior
Promotor de Comercio
Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad
Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico costarricense.
Caja Costarricense Seguro Social
Vicerrectoría de Investigación UCR
Proyecto Estado de la Nación
Observatorio del Desarrollo UCR
Universidad de Costa Rica
Universidad Estatal a Distancia
Universidad Nacional
Instituto Tecnológico de CR
Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad

17. Vigny Alvarado valvarad@uned.ac.cr
Gracias
Vigny Alvarado