1. South Asia – Special Interest Group (a.k.a SA-SIG) Who are we? What are our goals? What have we done so far? What are our plans? How can you participate?

2. Who are we? The SA-SIG is a special interest subgroup of the Internet2 Special Interest Group (SIG) on Emerging Research and Education Networks. See: http://international.internet2.edu/intl_connect/emergingnetworks_sig.html http://international.internet2.edu/intl_connect/emergingnetworks_sig.html The SA-SIG has a specific focus on South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). The Sub-group chair for the SA-SIG is Jim Williams of Indiana University. The SA-SIG has a web site located at Indiana University and reachable via: –http://southasia.indiana.edu and from the overall Internet2 Emerging NREN pagehttp://southasia.indiana.edu IMPORTANT – Please sign-up for the mailing list!!! (on the web page)

3. What are our goals? Encourage the development of NRENs in South Asia Gathering and sharing information about research, teaching, learning collaborations and needs in and with the region Provide a forum for the discussion of NREN activities and educational activities in general within South Asia … Provide a mechanism for linking technology developers in South Asia with perspective funders.

4. What have we done so far? Web page and mailing list set up See: http://southasia.indiana.eduhttp://southasia.indiana.edu Two day workshop (Day 1 – medical applications; Day 2 – NREN developments) at the Spring 2007 Internet2 meeting See: http://southasia.indiana.edu/past.shtml (NREN session)http://southasia.indiana.edu/past.shtml See: http://events.internet2.edu/2007/southasia/Wednesday%20Session.html (medical session) http://events.internet2.edu/2007/southasia/Wednesday%20Session.html

5. Network Connection to Pakistan!! With joint funding from the US National Science Foundation and the Pakistan Higher Education Commission we are in the process of constructing a NREN connection to Pakistan. The actual funded connection will be from Karachi to Singapore. In Singapore we will use TEIN2 resources to reach the APAN PoP in Tokyo. In Tokyo we will use the US funded TransPAC2 connection to the US and the APAN networks to reach other locations in Southeast Asia.

7. What are our plans? BOF scheduled in San Diego: Tuesday 9-October 7:30am-8:45am Location: Royal Palm Salon Five This meeting will be the focal point for determining what activities the SA-SIG will undertake for the Spring Internet2 meeting Will we organize another “NREN day”? Is there something more valuable and useful? Please attend the BOF and give us your feedback!!!

8. How can you participate? Attend the BOF Subscribe to the mailing list Give us your ideas!!!

9. Again…. Web site: http://southasia.indiana.eduhttp://southasia.indiana.edu BOF Tuesday 9-October 7:30am - Royal Palm Salon Five SA-SIG subgroup leader –Jim Williams – Indiana University –williams@indiana.eduwilliams@indiana.edu