1. 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 1948. 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. CORE GigaRouter ITCR UNAUNED UCR IP 200.9.32.32 IP 200.9.32.64IP 200.9.32.128 IP 200.9.32.96 NREN´ s 45 Mbps Submarine Maya - Arcos switch 3500 CCSS switch 3500 INM switch 3500 CENAT CR2NetCR2Net MegaRuter National IP Net VPN MPLS

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 CyTwww.micit.go.cr www.go.cr Gobierno digital de CRwww.go.cr www.anc.ac.cr Academia Nacional de Cienciaswww.anc.ac.cr www.comex.go.cr Comercio Exteriorwww.comex.go.cr www.procomer.co.cr Promotor de Comerciowww.procomer.co.cr www.inbio.ac.cr Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidadwww.inbio.ac.cr www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico costarricense.www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr www.ccss.sa.cr Caja Costarricense Seguro Socialwww.ccss.sa.cr www.vinv.ucr.ac.cr Vicerrectoría de Investigación UCRwww.vinv.ucr.ac.cr www.estadonacion.or.cr Proyecto Estado de la Naciónwww.estadonacion.or.cr www.odd.ucr.ac.cr Observatorio del Desarrollo UCRwww.odd.ucr.ac.cr www.ucr.ac.crUniversidad de Costa Ricawww.ucr.ac.cr www.uned.ac.crUniversidad Estatal a Distanciawww.uned.ac.cr www.una.ac.crUniversidad Nacionalwww.una.ac.cr www.itcr.ac.crInstituto Tecnológico de CRwww.itcr.ac.cr www.ice.go.crInstituto Costarricense de Electricidadwww.ice.go.cr

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