Cablegate: Nigeria Requests Dvc Equipment

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ABUJA 000452

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/PD DAVID FOLEY AND IIP/T/EM SANDRA BRUCKNER
LAGOS FOR PAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ACOA OIIP KPAO NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA REQUESTS DVC EQUIPMENT

REFTEL: STATE 43367

1. Summary. The U.S. mission in Nigeria is anxious to
acquire DVC technology, and requests two Polycom VSX-7000
systems for Abuja and Lagos Information Resource Centers.
Both sites have established Internet connectivity through
local Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who can supply 128
kilobytes as needed. End Summary.

DVCs and Nigeria
----------------

2. The Mission would like to implement DVC technology in
both Lagos and Abuja for PD programming, and eventually for
other Mission activities - including joint country team
meetings, within-Africa programming on issues such as
HIV/AIDS, etc.. We propose using our two Information
Resource Centers (IRCs) in Abuja and Lagos as the focal
points for launching DVC technology. In both locations, we
have established Internet capability that is not dependent
on DOS systems but through local ISPs. Both companies have
indicated their willingness and capability to provide 128
kilobytes (download of signal as well as uplink) at the two
locations. We have discussed within the Mission how best to
fund DVC equipment; initially, however, only PAS resources
will be available to pay for Internet costs. Given that
limitation, we cannot afford 128 kilobytes on a daily basis,
but will work with each ISP to provide 128 kilobytes on an
as-needed basis for DVCs. We anticipate that other sections
of the Mission will come to appreciate the utility of DVCs,
we will bill other sections/agencies accordingly, and
eventually move to a more unified system of funding for
DVCs. However, we must be clear that the U.S. Mission is
not currently in a position to fully utilize DVCs with such
regularity as to require 128 kilobytes on a daily basis and
there is no mechanism within ICASS (or one that is likely to
be implemented in the near future) to take immediate
advantage of the technology.

3. Mission Nigeria appreciates AF/PD's willingness to
jumpstart DVC acquisition by posts, and hopes that our
request will be favorably reviewed.

ROBERTS

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