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con encover storyThe Advent Of BroadbandOUf neighbours south of the causeway have it. Village kids in Japan use it So when will we have it? Broad... that is. PC VVOrid gives you the low-down on the high-speed connection we are all still dreaming about!

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hardwareTurn Specs into SpeedBeyond just getting a fast CPU, optimising the other components in a computer system canmake a real difference in terms of overall performance and reliability. Here are some tipsand tricks.

Speak For YourselfFree Internet calls are catching on quickly. You can save a lot on overseas calls by using yourPC and the Internet rather than going through the telephone company's lines.

networkingSetting Up And Configuring Small LANs

After all, our neighbour has alreadygotten it and who's to say it is notgoing to be a reality here'

The promise of high-speedNet access is certainly tempting.

Commonly touted benefits,such as movies-on-demandand video<onferencing, couldcertainly expand the Inter­net as we know it. In orderto take advantage of the

higher bandwidth avail­able, local companies willstart developing new

applications, which intum, can dramatically change the

way we live and work.What docs all this mean to home

users here? MP3 downloads by thebucketful in seconds, more media­,rich content sites, live video andaudio streaming without any lag­ging are the possibilities and therewill be definitely a jump in multi­player gaming. Sure, online gamingis already the craze here. Just takea look at the number of peoplepopulating cyber-cafes playingCounter-Strike! With the emergenceof broadband access, we will be able-to revel in multi-player games fromthe comfort of our houses. No moreWaiting for a dial-up to connect youto the server.

to dial-up modems and the prevalentfSDN connection. Cable operators,mostly in US, are overhauling theircoax-cable networks to enable the use ofhigh-speed cable modems. Telephonecompanies are rolling out the DigitalSubscriber Line (DSL) technology thatallows the transmission of high-speeddigital data over normal coppertelephone wires. Although less devel­oped than cable modem and DSLservice access, satellite technologiesalso offer the potential for high-speedInternet access.

CableCable leads the way in term of theoreticalspeeds and that makes it extremelyappealing, compared to other broadbandaccess methods. Its download speed of30mbps makes it astoundingly 500 timesfaster than today's56.6kbps modem. Forthe sake of comparison, corporate nlines send and receive data at a rate of1.5mbps, while mighty T3 lines pull indata at 44mbps. The cable TV networkand the coaxial cable that brings datahouses are capable of very high datatransmission rates.

A cable modem is a device thatconnects to an existing cable feed andan Ethernet network card that is alsoknown as a Network Interface Card(NIC). in a way, a cable modem i. a

cover story

Internet to your computer. This mostlymeans downloading Web pages andsoftware from the server. The'upstream'bandwidth (the data sent from yourcomputer to the Internet), normally com­prises of e-mail messages, and is in therange of 200kbps to 2mbps.

Installation for a cable modemshould be easy. Just caIl up the serviceprovider, (we expect the same thinghere should internet cable becomeavailable), and the cable technician willdo the rest. One thing for sure, the pro­vider will be much more involvedin setting up the connection than astandard dial-up Internet service pro­vider. Gone are the days of installingsome software yourself, or getting cryp­tic configuration information OVe!" thephone which you need to enter intoyour computer. Instead, the cablecompany will visit your house andinstall yOUT modem, check your wir­ing, and arrange for a technician toinstall YOUI network card and configureyour software.

DSLA Digital Subscriber Line can send andreceive data at speeds of up to 8mbpsand 1.5kbps respectively. It does sousing normal copper telephone lines,thus making it the most attractiveoption in Malaysia, as our own local

In Malaysia we have the ISDN connection that offers acceptable speed

but it is limited only to corporations or institutions through fast,

dedicated phone lines, and is hard to adopt especially for home users.

Broadband is not all about rawtransmission speed. If you're runninga site today, you should know thatthe persistent connections will be asimportant as raw throughput and .fast connectivity. Broadband technol­ogies allow full-time, dedicated con­nections to the Web. Corporate Webmanagers need look no further thantheir own offices to imagine how ajump in residential broadband usewill raise the bar for them in terms ofperformance, security, site design andcontent freshness.

At least three technologies areemerging as broadband alternatives

true modem but it is totally differentfrom to dial-up modems. Most modernhome computers can be equipped touse a cable modem. The cable modemsupports a much higher speed thanthe common dial-up modem and theend connects with the network card.Your computer must have an availableslot for the Ethernet card then. Cablemodems connect a subscriber to a net­work in the same way the Local AreaNetworks (LANs) used to cennect PCsin most workplaces.

The cable network is designed tosupport the highest speeds in the 'down­stream' direction, which is from the

telcos can implement the serviceeasily with the existing phone wiring.DSL comes in severa] differentversions but the most appropriate onefor home users is the AsymmetricDigital Subscriber Line (ADSL), adopt­ed in 1997.

An ADSL circuit works by con­necting an ADSL modem on each endof a twisted-pair telephone line. Italso requires splitters on both ends tosplit the existing phone line into threeseparate frequency channels; down­stream and upstream channels for datatransfer, and analogue phone voicechannel. This ability means that you can

NOV E M 8 E R 2000 .'-4"·"-' 39

cover story

The high bandwidth

future is coming and

given time, high-speed

access will reach the

masses here. After all,

our neighbour has

already got it and who's

to say it is not going to

be a reality here?

Broadband:What it Means to You

On the other side of the equation, andoffering just as much allure, is whatbroadband can offer to the end user.The places where fast access has beenimplemented offer a tangible glimpseat broadband's impacts and potentials.

Incessant cOll1rectiolls. Oneimmediate result of subscribing to acable modem or OSL service is thatit's always on. The connection is eitherdedicated, in the case of DSL, or shared,in the case of a cable modem.

But in either case, your PC is alwaysready for surfing-no need to dial upan lSP or corporate server. As a result,remote offices, home offices or casuaJteJecommuterscan be more tightly linkedto a data network, includi.ng video

windows. Companiescan carve virtuaJ pri~

vate networks out ofthe public lnternet,creating an extendedcorporate net thatdefies geography.

Moving pictures.Video-based contentalso becomes mucheasier to access,either through vid­eo-streaming techno­logy or faster down-loads to PC-based

video players. In a broadband world,video will be used for e-cornmerce,

A Boost for E-CommerceOnline retail and other forms ofe-commerce would benefit fromwidespread broadband access. Imaginegoing to a retail site and instead ofseeing pictures and prices, you getan interactive catalogue. Click on abackpack, for example, and see a salesperson demonstrating it. Auto sales, realestate and other big-ticket items - salesof which arc minimal on the Web­could receive the boost they need frombroadband. Whatever form it takes,broadband is poised to revolutionisethe way Malaysians usc the Web.

lite technology the winning card in thehigh-speed access game.

-, .....

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Since most Internet users fall intothe pattern of needing high bandwidthfrom the Web (called downstTeam­typically Web pages and file down­loads) and less bandwidth going tothe Web (upstream-typically linkrequests), this scenario of sendingupstream data over a standard modemline, and down- stream data over thehigh bandwidth satellite feed will bemore appeaJing in Malaysia. Futuresatellite technology will allow for 2-waycommunications,and higher upstreambandwidths.

One powerfulaspect of satellitetechnology is its abil­ity to easily reachareas that are oth­erwise difficult toestablish contactwith. In this sense,satellite technologymay be the greatequaJiser. The abili­ty to provide servicejust as easily anywhere, from the SaharaDesert to Pulau Tikus, may give satel-

higher than a cable modem or DSLsystem, as you will need a dish, box, andPC card.

SatelliteCurrent satellite connections have athroughput of 400kbps, which is slowerthan the other two broadband alterna­tives but still way faster than an ISDNconnection. However, it promises to bethe most accessible as all you need todo is to get hold of a satellite dish.Getting Internet data via satellite isjust like getting TV signaJ from one.In both cases data is being sent fromthe satellite to the dish, and thentranslated and decoded by aninstalled decoder.

The 400kbps speed however, is onlyachieved in the downstream direction,from the Internet to the computer. Datafrom the satellite can only be sent to thereceiver but not the other way around.You will still need a separate dial-upmodem and account to surf. To put itsimply, information is requested via amodem line but data is sent back via thesatellite feed.

Latency, the time it takes forcommands and data to travel to andfrom satellites sometimes means slowerspeeds. Start-up costs are considerably

speak on the phone while accessing theInternet. The Tnternct data calls can stopthe clogging up of the PSTN (PublicSwitched Telephone System Network)and be sent directly to the packetswitched network.

DSL's chief limitation is its 'threemiles radius'. It is u.nable to provideservice to users who live more thanthree miles from the Central Provider.However, we believe that tt."Chnologywill find a solution soon. Just likecable. theoretical speeds do not alwaystranslate into actual speed. The qualityof wiring also plays a part. Deterioratingtelephone cable or poor qualitytelephones might make implementingDSL an impossibility. The situationmight require a complete replacementof equipment and / or cables.

In addition, the newest version ofDSL, cleverly named G.Ute, is on its way.The new GJite modems are designedto be instaUed by consumers without avisit from a telephone company techni­cian, which could lower the cost ofservice dnnnatically.

40 "-"-1;14.' NOV E M 8 E R 2 0 0 0

cover story

allowing customers to see muchmore than the static pictures usedtoday to view clothing, furnishingsor cars.

Tile wired home. Broadband accessis also a key to a new level of homeautomation. AMX Corp. of Dallasspecialises in automating high-endaudio-video presentation roomsfor corporations.

Now it's developing' a product thatwill tie home appliances-heating, air

Broadband will

help users customise

the Web. Service

providers are setting

out to create

broadband portal sites

that direct their

customers to more

specialised content.

conditioning, TVs, stereos, lights, secu­rity systems to a Web interface, so youcould remotely manage your home envi­ronment. In addition, the system cansend information directly to a homeappliance, allowing, say, a weatherreport to prompt your furnace to tum

off and on.Personalisatioll. Broadband will

help users customise the Web. Serviceproviders are setting out to createbroadband portal sites that directtheir customers to more specialisedcontent. The company will providevideo plug-ins and offer services suchas downloacling of video clips and soft­ware, as well as interactive games,streaming video and streamingaudio, the company says.

The FutureOther broadband option whichcould be widely accepted hereis the high-speed wirelessconnection, capable of speeds upto Imbps.

Wireless broadband actuallycomes, in two forms. First, theH:'ed wireless systems that oper-

42 "41'-1;14-' NOV E M 8 E R 2000

ate at 28GHz and Upl which networkoperators are putting into place' today toserve the business market. Companiessuch as WinStar Communications Inc.of New York, and TeJigent rnc. ofVienna, Va., install smail antcml(ll; ontop of office buildings and establisha line-of-sight connection to a central

base station, which is then connectedto the network, usually via high-speedfibre-optic cable.

The second is a new technology. Itallows a single point on a network toconnect to multiple antennas, creatinga way to provide high-speed dataand voice services, for that matter,

cover story

to customers withuut having; to leasecapacity from the local phone companyor build out a wired network. In short,it is cheap and fast to deploy.

What's more, a third-generationcellular system, known as 3G, willoffer wireless access at megabit speeds,not to mention the added benefit of

NOv E M 8 E R. 2 0 0 0 .4*1.'·;;.1 43

cover story

The promise of high-speed Net access is certainly

tempting. Commonly touted benefits, such as movies-on­

demand and video-conferencing, could certainly expand

the Internet as we know it.

mobility. Although late to the broad­band party; wireless options could easilycatch up.

Wireless CableIt may sound like an oxymoron, butwireless cable TV is already a largeand growing business, cutting into cablecompanies' markets by broadcastingmulti-channel TV programming tohomes equipped with special anterulas.Today. you can place a dish on yourroof that can receive data in the 2to 2.6GHz range. The dish passesthe information through the coaxialcable to a special modem that convertsthe signal into data that that yourcomputer understands.

This process works for download­ing; however. talking back to thecable provider still requires a standardanalogue telephone line. The industryis working to establish a wirelessupstream path, but a viable solution isat least two years away.

46 1"'_04.' NOV E M B E R 2000

Cable Still RulesWhile the Pioneer study sets Qut to proj­ect broadband satellite use, a separatereport from Dataquest predicts that theglobal cable modem market will grow130 percent this year.

With issues over standards largelyresolved, cable modem shipments areexpected to jump during the first quarterof next year.

The three main tL'Chnologies­metaphorical winds from different pointsof the compass - will swirl and turnfor some time belore they settle into aprevailing direction.

It's at this stage that broadbandbecomes capable of the killer applicationthat will really blow you away. Personal

video-confcrcncing where you canconverse with family miles away willbecome as common as conversi ngthrough the normal telephone.

A separate, but related, issue ishow widely available will access tobroadband services be. Some areconcerned that the broadband milrketmay not reach into inner city or rurallocales. Moreover, certain of thebroadband technologies have technicalconstraints that may prevent Uleir widedeployment in rural communities. Thelnternet hilS been hailed as an uniquelydemocratic medium, and some assert

that urban and rural communities mightbe left behind as Malaysia moves intobroadband.•

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Study of ChangesAcross a Period

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4

Peranan RangkaianJalur Lebar

PendahuluanBEBAGAIMANA yang kita aedla maJdum, arus ledakaD telmologi makiumat claD komllllikasl (ICT)

yang bermula aejak dekad laIu telah memberikaD satu dlmensi baru kepada eara claD gaya hidupmasyarakat Malayaia. Deugan meuggunakan telmologi jalur lebar (broadband) yang ada aekaraDg,Intemet boleh dieapal hamplr di mana-mana uJa. Jalur lebar laIah medium yang menyambnngksnkomunlkaai berkenpayaau tIDggi taupa perin modem beau berwayar, tetapi hauya meuggunakautelmologi generaai ketiga (301. 3.50, claD 4G atau Capalau Paket Berke1'l.luan Tiuggi (HSDPAI. Kajiselidik yang dijalsnkan oleh BuruhanJaya Komllllikasl claD Multimedia Malayaia (MCMCI baru-baruiDi menuaJnkkaD bahawa jumlah pelauggan jalur lebar laIah 1.36 juta pada akhir tahun laIu.

perkhidmatan jalur lebar kepadapelanggan mereka dengan kadarberpatutan. Kemampuan teknologisedemikian mempercepatpemindahan dan muat turun datamengikut kadar tertentu termasuksatu megabait sesaat (Mbps). Halini demikian kerana apabila kita

antarabangsa dalam dunia teknologimaklumat (IT). Semua penyediaperkhidmatan telekomunikasitanpa wayar tempatan sepertiMaxis Communications Berhad,Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad (Celcom),Streamyx, dan sebagainya semakinberlumba-lumba menawarkan

,~-...;: - ...~TeknoIogI tanpa wayar dapat meniagkatkan pengalaman pemelajaran pela}at.

Di samping itu, kerajaan telahmembelanjakan sebanyak RM12. 9bilion untuk memajukan bidangICT dalam Rancangan MalaysiaKesembilan (RMK-9), sekaligus mewujudkan negara yangdirangkaikan sebagai agenda utamanegara menuju ke arah negaramaju menjelang 2020. Malaysiamemanfaatkan persekitaranrangkaian seiring dengan peluasanKoridor Raya Multimedia (MSC),termasuk pembangunan bandarsiber, dan pusat siber yang dikenalpasti sesuai termasuk di kawasanpedalaman. Bajet 2008 yangdibentangkan oleh Perdana Menteri,Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,tahun lalu, menyaksikan bidangICT diberi perhatian khusus olehkerajaan.

Secara sedar atau tidak,Internet telah mengubah carahidup manusia dalam pelbagaiaspek kehidupan harian. Urusanpejabat, perbankan, perniagaan,penerbitan, pemelajaran, dansebagainya telah menjadi semakinmudah dan pantas. Peredaranteknologi mempercepat kerjamanusia apatah lagi zaman kianberubah memaksa kerja hariansemakin menimbun, selain perludisegerakan tidak kira tempat ataumasa. Oleh itu, teknologi sepertijalur lebar tanpa wayar mudah alihamat dialu-alukan memandangkanMalaysia sedang mencapai standard

30

Internet telah mengubah cara hidup manus!a dalam pe1ba¢a1 aspek hehidupan harian.

muat turun sesuatu bahan, tahapkelajuan memainkan perananmempercepat proses kerja. Kini kitaberkemampuan melayari Internetdalam kereta, tepi pantai mahupunketika berputar di Eye On Malaysiaseolah-olah berada di pejabat.

Teknologi rangkaian jalurlebar kini menjadi satu keperluanuntuk memacu kejayaan Malaysiasupaya tidak ketinggalan dalamarus maklumat yang begitu pantas.Teknologi komunikasi bergerakdan wayarles mencatatkanperkembangan yang terlalu pesatpada masa ini dan kadangkalamemeningkan juga teknologimana yang harus dipilih. Barusahaja kita mengenali teknologi3G untuk rangkaian telefon bimbitberkelajuan tinggi dan WLAN(rangkaian kawasan setempatwayarles) atau Wireless Fidelity(WiFi), kini timbul pula istilahbaharu, WiMax atau rangkaiankawasan metro wayarles.Sebenarnya banyak lagi istilahrangkaian wayarles dan telefonbimbit terkini yang menjadi

/'

Kaedah pengajaran lebih berkesan dilakukan, sekali gus ~eflingkatkan mlnat pelajar tertladap mala pelajaran t~ut.

Peruntukan RM45 juta kepada Suruhanjaya Multimediadan Komunikasi Malaysia untuk melaksanakan projekSchoolNet bagi penyediaan perkhidmatan Internet disekolah dan RM15 juta lagi untuk pendidikan leT dikawasan pedalaman amat bertepatan untuk merapatkanjurang digital antara pelajar kota dan desa.

penghubung kepada mesin danjuga manusia di seluruh dunia. DiMalaysia, kita dapat lihat syarikat­syarikat yang memainkan peranandalam membekalkan Internetjalur lebar seperti TMNet, Jaring,Timedotnet, RedTone, Maxis 3G,Celcom, DiGi, sama ada melaluitalian tetap ataupun tanpawayar (wireless). Pengguna bolehmendapatkan khidmat Internet jalurlebar daripada pelbagai pengendalimengikut kemampuan masing­masing.

Pelan Jalur Lebar Negarayang diperkenalkan pada akhirtahun 2004 antara lain bertujuanuntuk meningkatkan penyediaaninfrastruktur Internet berkapasititinggi di negara ini. Kerajaanmeletakkan sasaran untukmeningkatkan kadar penembusanperkhidmatan jalur lebar kepada 50peratus daripada 5.5 juta isi rumahdi negara ini menjelang tahun2010. Timbalan Perdana Menteri,Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata,pada masa inl, penembusanperkhidmatan berkenaan berada

32 Miii_.__

pada kadar 12 peratus.Langkah memperluas kadar

penembusan jalur lebar, secaratidak langsung dapat menjadipemangkin untuk mencetuskanperkembangan ekonomi negara,malah Keluaran Dalam NegaraKasar dianggarkan dapatditingkatkan antara setengah hinggaempat peratus. Dengan adanyapembangunan isi kandungan danbeberapa khidmat yang bolehditerapkan kepada penggunamelalui perkhidmatan jalur lebar,cara dan kaedah bagi menjalankanperniagaan dan perkhidmatankerajaan akan berubah denganbegitu ketara. Perkhidmatanitu akan dapat meningkatkandaya saing negara dalam bidangperniagaan, serta sistempenyampaian awam pada pihakkerajaan. Oleh itu, penggunaanperkhidmatan jalur lebar yang lebihmeluas akan digalakkan menerusipenyediaan pakej inovatif dan tarifyang kompetitif.

Ekoran itu, pada tahun2005, Kesatuan Telekomunikasi

Antarabangsa (ITU) melancarkaninisiatif yang dikenali sebagaiConnect The World bertujuanuntuk menghubungkan semuamasyarakat di seluruh marcapadamenjelang 2015. Menerusi inisiatifitu, iTU menjalin kerjasamadengan banyak rakan teknologiuntuk memobilitikan manusia,memudahkan kewangan danmendapatkan sumber teknikal yangdiperlukan untuk membangunkaninfrastruktur ICT, penyambungan,dan capaian. Hal ini bagimembolehkan masyarakat didunia mempunyai keupayaantelekomunikasi atau capaian keInternet selain melengkapkan gayahidup pada era digital ini.

Perbezaan keupayaan inilahyang membezakan masyarakatbandar dan luar bandar atau lebihdikenal sebagai "jurang digital".Masyarakat bandar menjalanigaya hidup lebih moden dengantelefon bimbitnya, pembantuperibadi digital (PDA), komputerperibadi (PC), komputer riba, dansebagainya sama ada untuk bekerjamahupun kehidupan seharian.Sedangkan masyarakat di kampungmasih dengan gaya hidup lamawalaupun mereka juga mendapattempias kemajuan IT. Walaupunrangkaian telekomunikasi tanpawayar dikatakan meliputi kira-kira90 peratus di negara ini, lebihbanyak bertumpu di kawasan yangpadat dengan penduduk. Begitujuga dengan capaian Internettidak kira menggunakan kaedahpenyambungan dall masuk, tanpawayar atau jalur lebar, masih jauhdaripada jangkauan untuk meliputikeseluruhan masyarakat di negaraini.

Seiring dengan perkembanganitu, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia(KPM) tidak mahu ketinggalandalam arus perdana yang dapatdimanfaatkan menerusi sistempendidikan negara. PeruntukanRM45 juta kepada SuruhanjayaMultimedia dan KomunikasiMalaysia untuk melaksanakanprojek SchoolNet bagi penyediaanperkhidmatan Internet di sekolahdan RM15 juta lagi untuk pendidikanICT di kawasan pedalaman amatbertepatan untuk merapatkanjurang digital antara pelajar kotadan desa. Sebagai langkah proaktif

untuk membestarikan semuasekolah kerajaan, KPM berusahamenyediakan infrastruktur danmembekalkan perkakasan ICT,mengadakan akses Internetjalur lebar untuk sekolah danmembangunkan rangkaiansetempat.

Kementerian juga berusahauntuk membangunkan danmembekalkan sekolah denganpelbagai aplikasi pengurusan,perisian kursus, bahan multimediadan program TV Pendidikan untukpengajaran dan pembelajaran.Sebanyak 88 buah SekolahBestari akan dimantapkan untukdijadikan penanda aras kepadaProgram Pembestarian Sekolah,setain menjalinkan kerjasamadengan agensi dan pihak luartermasuk pihak·pihak swastabagi mempercepat prosespembestarian. Hal ini demikiankerana Program PembestarianSekolah merupakan prosesberterusan ke arah pembudayaanpenggunaan ICT dalam pendidikanbagi meningkatkan kualitipengajaran dan pemelajaran,keberkesanan pengurusan danpentadbiran sekolah, sertakompetensi guru.

Selain itu, pada pertengahan

tahun lalu pihak IntelElectronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.dan Kementerian Pelajaranmengumumkan persetujuanberhubung kerjasama ProgramPerintis Teknologi Wayarles fasaketiga yang membolehkan gurudapat mengajar dengan lebihberkesan dalam kelas melaluiInternet. Menerusi fasa tersebut,sebanyak 175 sekolah bolehmengakses 500 wayarles (WiFi)sehingga ke bilik guru, pusatpenyelidikan, dan makmal sainsyang memfokus kepada tempatpengajaran dan pemelajaran.Program tersebut diadakan selarasdengan projek pengajaran sainsdan matematik dalam bahasaInggeris (ITeMS) yang diperkenalkanoleh kementerian terbabit.Pengajar dapat mengakses denganpenggunaan Internet dan lebihberkesan berbanding denganpenggunaan buku nota.

Sejak pelancaran programtersebut pada 2004, sejumlah800 pangkalan akses tanpa wayartelah digunakan dalam 475 buahsekolah terpilih. Menurut MenteriPelajaran Datuk Seri HishamuddinTun Hussein, teknologi tanpa wayardapat meningkatkan pengalamanpemelajaran pelajar, sepertijuga pengajar dapat mengaksesmaklumat dan pertukaran ideadengan kumpulan lain di seluruhdunia. Hal ini membolehkankaedah pengajaran lebih berkesandilakukan, sekali gus meningkatkanminat pelajar terhadap matapelajaran tersebut.

Buat masa 1n;, Malaysiamenduduki tangga yang ke-20 daripada 80 negara duniayang mempunyai kemudahanasas pembangunan ICT dalampelbagai bidang. Pencapaian ituamat membanggakan sekali gusmenjadikan negara ini hampirsarna dengan negara maju laindalam penguasaan bidang ICT. Jikadibuat perbandingan dengan negaradi benua Afrika seperti Ghana,Sudan, dan Madagascar, kita kinitelah jauh ke hadapan. Kita sudahmelangkaui tahap penguasaan ICTsejajar dengan perkembangan duniaglobalisasi walaupun kita ialahnegara membangun.

Pemasangan jalur lebar kiniturut menjadi sebahagian daripada

hasrat beberapa kerajaan negeriuntuk menjadikan negeri sibertermoden. Setiap kerajaan negerisedang memperhebat usahamembina kemudahan jalur lebar diseluruh negeri bagi membolehkanrakyat mendapat manfaat daripadakemudahan moden tersebut. Hal inidemikian kerana kita mahu rakyatdi setiap negeri tidak ketinggalandengan dunia tanpa sempadanyang semakin berkembang pesatini. Baru-baru ini, pihak TelekomMalaysia Bhd. (TM) bercadang untukmelabur sebanyak RM1. 9 bilionbagi membangunkan infrastrukturtelekomunikasi jalur lebar diIskandar Malaysia.

Menteri Besar Johor, DatukAbdul Ghani Othman berkata,pelaburan itu membolehkanlebih 718,000 premis meliputirumah kediaman, pejabat, danlot perniagaan di kawasan itumenerima kemudahan jalur lebarmeliputi kawasan Nusajaya, pusatbandar raya Johor Bahru, Senaihingga ke Skudai bagi menjanaaktiviti ekonomi dan meningkatkankualiti hidup rakyat. Begitu jugausaha yang sama sedang dan telahdilakukan di peringkat negeri-negerilain di Semenanjung Malaysia,Sabah dan Sarawak.

KesimpulanSebagai intiha, industri ICT

Malaysia dijangka terus berkembangdalam tempoh beberapa tahunakan datang pada kadar puratatahunan sebanyak 10 peratus,sekali gus menjadikannya antarapasaran paling pesat berkembangdi Asia. Hal ini jelas menunjukkanbahawa Malaysia telah berusahakeras untuk menjadi penerajuindustri ICT serantau dan pusatbagi perisian dan penyelesaianberkelas dunia. Rakyat Malaysiaturut memperkasakan ICT danmenyokong saranan kerajaanbagi mewujudkan masyarakatberasaskan pengetahuan. Tegasnyaperkhidmatan jalur lebar tanpadawai bukan sahaja berjayamempertingkatkan gaya hiduppengguna, malah dapat membantumencipta peluang perniagaan baru,serta memainkan peranan pentingdalam proses pemelajaran parapelajar ®

...... ,.....

Edisi 1 Tahun 2010 (Jan -Jun)

Selain Clk Ellyziana, pengurus-pengurus dariPJK Felda Chini 1, PJK Kampung Luit, PJKDurian Tawar, PJK Kampung Awah, PJKSimpang Sepayang, PJK Kampung Bukit Rang,PJK Rantau Perintis, PJK Felda Keratong 2 danPJK Damak serla Penolong Pengurus PJKKampung Beruas turut turun padang untukmembantu menyebarkan maklumat danmemperkenalkan PJK kepada orang awam diseluruh Pekan.

Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan MultimediaMalaysia (SKMM) bertanggungjawab memblnadan menyediakan ruang pameran yangmencontohi PJK sedia ada di seluruh negarabagi membolehkan para pengunjung mengecapisuasana sebenar berada di dalam sesebuahPJK.

Semasa dl Ruang Pameran PJK, YAB Perdanal ~ ........tQri telah diberi penerangan oleh Pengurus

"amu Jaya 3, Clk Ellyziana Abu BakarI modul-modul pembelajaran yang:nalkan kepada komuniti setempatuk modul-modul e-pembelajaran,Ing dan e-Kerajaan.YAB Perdana Menteri3empat beramah mesra dengan para

pengunjung ketika menggunapakai kemudahanyang disediakan di Ruang Pameran tersebut.

1BULETIN PJK

Laman sesawang PJK, satu hasH inisiatif pihakTelekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), dibangunkanbagi memperkenal dan mempromosi PJKsebagai satu bentuk kemudahan kepada seluruhkomuniti di Malaysia untuk mengakses ataumelayari Internet dengan kelajuan tinggi bagimendapatkan maklumat setempat mahupunglobal.

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ajlis Pelancaran PORTAL PusatJalur Lebar Komunitl (PJK) lelahdisempurnakan oleh YAB PerdanaMenteri Malaysia Datuk Serl NajibTun Abdul Razak berlempat di

Ruang Pameran PJK yang dibina bersempenaMajlis Pelancaran Digital Pekan 1Malaysia diPekan, Pahang pada 30 Januari lalu. Majlispelancaran portal www.pjk.com.myitu turutdihadiri oleh Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasidan Kebudayaan Malaysia YB. Dato' Seri UtamaDr. Rals Yatim, Menteri Besar Pahang YAB.Datuk Serl Adnan Yaakob dan PengerusiSuruhanjaya Komunikasi dan MultimediaMalaysia (SKMM) YBhg. Tan Sri Khalid Ramli.

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PJK bertindak merapatkanjurang digital di kalanganrakyat Malaysia melaluipendedahan teknologi IT danpemberian perkhidmatanjalur lebar di kawasan luarbandar bagi membolehkanseluruh komuniti mengaksesatau melayari internetdengan kelajuan tinggl,dalam usaha mendapatkanmaklumat setempatmahupun global selarasdengan usaha Kerajaanmembangunkan Malaysiasebagal negara yangberdaya salng meningkatkantaraf ekonoml dan sosial,serla melahirkan masyarakatMalaysia berBmupengetahuan.

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PJK SELURUH NEGARA

Bersama Program PJK (Jan - Jun 2010)PJK FELDA Pasak, Johor menganjurkan Program Lawatan Kerja 30 peserta darlpada UnitPeraneangan Ekonomi Negerl Melaka, Melaka ICT Holding Sdn Bhd, Institut Pengurusan Melaka(IMM), dan para Pengurus Pusat Panggilan kelalaan Kerajaan Negeri Melaka.

9 & 10 Jan: PJK Lanek, Negeri Sembilan menganjurkan Karnival Usahawan dan Harl ICT di Dewan OrangRamal Batu Klklr.

26 - 28 Jan: PJK Julau, Sarawak menganjurkan Program Kern Literasi untuk 60 peserta dengan kehadiran YBData' Joseph Salang Gadum, Timbalan Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan Sarawak.

27 - 30 Jan: Majlis Perasmlan PJK Pengkalan Hulu, Perak oleh YAB Data' Seri Dr. Zambry bin Abdul Kadir,Menteri Besar Perak.

30 Jan: PJK FELDA Air Tawar 1, Johor menganjurkan Program ICT Raadshow melibatkan 394 peserta.

30 - 31 Jan: Pelanearan Digital Pekan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri Malaysia Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razakdi Dataran Pekan, Pahang.

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5 Feb: Majlis Perasmian PJK Ayer Limau, Melaka dengan kehadiran Tan Sri Khalid Ramli, Pengerusi SKMMdan YB Tuan Hj. Amirudln bin Yusol DUN Ayer Limau

6 Feb: PJK Kg. Baru A, Hulu Bernam, Selangor menganjurkan Program Kesedaran dan Fungsl PJK kepadaMasyarakat, dengan kehadiran YB Data' Hj Mohammad Idris bin Hj Abu Bakar, ADUN Hulu Bernam.

8 Feb: PJK Melaka Plndah, Melaka menganjurkan Majlls Pelanearan Faeebook Gerakan Belia 4B.

12 Mac: PJK Kg. Padang Jambu, Terengganu menganjurkan Program Kesedaran Bebas Dadah bersamaAADK.

23 Mac: PJK Dabong, Kelantan menganjurkan Pertandingan Melukis dan Mewarna bagi pelajar sekolahrendah.

23 April: Majlis Pelanearan e-Kiosk Generasi Digital dan Perasrnian PJK Serendah oleh YB Data' Seri UtamaDr. Rais Yatim, Menteri Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan.

22 Mei: PJK FELDA Adela, Kata lInggl, Johor menganjurkan Program ICT Roadshow melibatkan 149 orangpeserta.

27 - 28 Mel: PJK FELDA Tersang 1, 2 & 3, Pahang menganjurkan Karnlval Jalur Lebar.

E-KIOSK GENERASI DIGITAL - USAHA SKMM MERAKYATKAN leT

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Pelancaran Pusat khidmat sehenti 'e-Kiosk Generasi Digital'yang telah disempumakan oleh Y.B. Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Raisbin Yatim, Menten Penerangan Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan diPJK Serendah, Selangor pada 23 April lalu, bertujuanmempersiapkan masyarakat umum bagi menghadapi cabarandalam ekonomi berasaskan pengetahuan dengan membenkanpenekanan kepada memastikan adanya akses yang lebihmenyeluruh kepada perkhidmatan dalam talian danpeningkatan d~lam kemampuan memiliki PC.

Sebagai salah satu insenti! di bawah perlaksanaan inisiati! Jalur Lebar Negara (NBI),sejumlah 11 e-Kiosk sedang dibina di 13 kawasan mukim di Hulu Selangor mewakili 34e-Kiosk yang akan didirikan di negen Selangor. E-Kiosk akan disediakan di pusatkemasyarakatan dan pejabat mukim di 1,105 mukim seluruh negara membabitkanperuntukan sebanyak RM40 juta.

Pada majlls yang sarna, Y.B. Dato' Seri Utama turut melancarkan Pusat Jalur LebarKomuniti (PJK) Serendah di bawah Program Pembenan Perkhidmatan Sejagat (PPS).

SKMM PERKENAL MINI PJKSalah satu insenti! terbaru di bawah Inisiati! Jalur Lebar Negara (NBI) telah

diperkenalkan melalui Majlis Pelancaran Pusat Jalur Lebar Komuniti Kecil (MiniPJK) pertama yang disempurnakan oleh YB Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim,Menteri Penerangan Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan bertempat di PejabatPenerangan Daerah Hulu Selangor, Kuala Kubu Baharu pada 22 Apnl lalu. Hadirsarna, Pengerusi SKMM Tan Sri Khalid Ramli, wakil-wakil Kementerian, Jabatandan agensi Kerajaan serta pihak industri.

Insenti! kendalian SKMM bagi merapatkan jurang digitai di antara pelbagailapisan masyarakat di Malaysia di bawah Program Pembenan PerkhidmatanSejagat (PPS) ini akan dilanjutkan ke 138 Pejabat Penerangan Daerah seluruhnegara, dengan tujuh lokasi di negeri Selangor.

Meialui projek ini, setiap Pejabat Penerangan Daerah akan dilengkapi dengancapaian jalur lebar secara 2 kolekti! dan 5 buah komputer. Selain itu, melaluikonsep "Melatih Pelatih", latihan akan diberikan kepada pegawai-pegawai dipejabat tersebut bagi memastikan sambungan jalur lebar ini akan dapat dinikmatioleh masyarakat yang tinggal di persekitarannya.

HARI BERSAMA PJK'1iiiiijii~iii:;:;:=-l' Sepanjang Mei 2010, sejumlah 16lok.asi PJK di kawasan FELDA dimeriahkan denganII Program Hari Bersama PJK yang diatur dengan kerja13ama pihak SKMM Wilayah,

Telekom Malaysia Special Network Services (TM SNS), Pengurusan FELDA, PetugasPJK dan MSD Technology Sdn.Bhd (MSDT). Program yang diadakan di PJK FELDAPemanis 1 dan 2, FELDA Chemplak Barat, FELDA Tenimg, FELDA Medoi, FELDAKemelah, FELDA Jenderak Utara dan Selatan, FELDA Krau, FELDA Lembah Klau,FELDA Jengka 22, 23, 24 dan 25, FELDA Bukit Damar dan FELDA Lakum ini melibatkanpenyertaan lebih 1,300 ahli komuniti setempat. la diadakan di kawasan lapang yangbersesuaian berhampiran premis PJK.

Program Han Bersama PJK bertujuan mempromosi dan memperkenalkan PJK kepadaKetua-Ketua Masyarakat. Namun kehadiran beberapa tetamu VIP seperti ADUN PulauTawar iaitu YB Dato' Dr. Ahmad bin H<jji Ismail di Felda Jengka 24 dan ADUN Jengka YBWan Salman bin Wan Ismail di FELDA Jengka 25 menambahkan seri majlls.

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NASKHAH PEMELIHARAANPERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MAlAYSIA

Program Hari Bersama PJK ini dilihat telah be~aya memberi kesedaran kepadaketua-ketua masyarakat setempat akan faedah, peranan dan perkhidmatan yangdisediakan oleh PJK. Melalui program ini; bilangan Ahli PJK, serta pelangganperkhidmatan streamyx dan ICT Cambridge juga berjaya ditingkatkan.

Program promosi PJK bagi bulan Jun, Program Hari Terbuka PJK, telah dladakan di empat lokasi pilihan iaituPJK FELDA Belara, Terengganu (19 Jun), PJK Ulu Sat, Kelantan (21 Jun), PJK Palekbang, Kelantan (23 Jun) danPJK Panyit, Kelantan (24 Jun)... Program ini diatur dengan kerjasama pihak SKMM Wilayah, Telekom MalaysiaSpecial Network Services (TM SNS), Pengurusan FELDA, Petugas PJK dan MSD Technolpgy Sdn.Bhd (MSDT).

Hari Terbuka PJK ini diadakan bertujuan mempromosi dan mendekatkan PJK dengan komuniti setempatdengan memberi penekanan kepada pendedahan penggunaan program aplikasi elektronik yang telahdibangunkan oleh pihak Kerajaan, serta menambah bilangan ahli PJK, pelanggan perkhidmatan streamyx danICT Cambridge di kalangan komuniti setempat.

Hari Terbuka ini dimeriahkan dengan penganjuran pelbagai program celik IT serta kuiz, permainan online danaktiviti berkumpulan Program ini memberi fokus kepada penglibatan 12 golongan sasaran iaitu pelajarpra-sekolah, sekolah rendah dan sekolah menengah, serta golongan belia, dewasa, wanita, warga emas, petani,nelayan, peneroka, usahawan dan penternak. Majlis p~nutup dan penyampaian hadiah serta cenderahatimengakhiri Hari Terbuka PJK.

Kemudahan tempat majlis, alat siaraya, logistik, jamuan dan cenderahati kepada semua Ketua-ketuamasyarakat, tetamu dan peserta program PJK disediakan oleh pihak MSDT. Di samping itu, pihak MSDT jugamenyediakan kaunter perkhidmatan untuk peserta.

Hasilnya, komuniti setempat lebih peka akan faedah, peranan dan perkhidmatan yang disediakan, juga peripentingnya sesebuah aplikasi dalam memudahkan urusan seharian baik dalam penjimatan masa, wang ringgitmahupun tenaga. Mereka juga sedar bahawa penggunaan aplikasi tertentu seperti e-pembelajaran denganmodul pembelajaran secara online bagi pelajar sekolah dan belia serta e-dagang bagi usahawan mendapatkanpeluang perniagaan, pemasaran, sumber bekalan dan pembiayaan, akan meningkatkan kemahiran danpengetahuan dalam bidang tertentu dan akan membuka pelbagai peluang dan ruang meningkatkanpendapatan.

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INFOTECH MALAYSIA '95

1-3 NOVEMBER 1995

PWTC KUALA LUMPUR

ORGANISEDAMP PRODUCTS (MALAYSIA) SDN.BHD

ACS TECHNOLOGY (ASIA PACIFIC) SDN.BHD

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INDEX

Speech IBy: Prime Minister Y.A.B.Dato' Seri Dr.Mahathir Mohamad

Moving Towards More Intelligent Use Of Human Intelligence 2Information Technology Policy Planning and Its ImplicationsBy: Dr.Tengku Mohd.Azzman Shariffadeen

US Initiatives on the National Information Infrastructure 3By: Avron Barr

Competing in Computers: Business and Government Strategy 4In East AsiaBy: Kenneth L.Kraemer

Putrajaya The Intelligent City: A Startegy Towards 5the Digital Economy

Software Support for Infrastructure Systems-A Challenge 6For a Developing WorldBy: Dines Bjorner

Emerging Technologies Initiatives in Oracle 7By: Jack Crosby

Social and Cultural Impact of Intelligent (Broadband) 8Multimedia Networks (IBMN)By: Syed V.AhamedjVictor B.Lawrence

Education and Acculturation Issues and. Directions 9By: Tan Sri Datuk Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Noordin

Government Computerisation: HRD Policy for thePublic SectorBy: Dr. Halim Shafie

Managing Global Networks in MalaysiaBy: Stephen Miles

Security on Information SuperhighwayBy: Dr. Chow Chee Seng

Exploiting Global Information Resources ThroughJaringan llmuBy: Shabar Banun Jaafar

Assessing The Impact of IT on University Library ServicesIn the 21 st CenturyBy: Dr. Ding Choo Ming

Modelling the Information User: The Wider PerspectiveBy: Professor Tom Wilson

National Information Grid (NIG)By: Saifol Babri Mohamed Shamlan

Legal Issues in The Electronic Network EnvironmentBy: Dr. Khaw Lake Tee

Some Thoughts on Regulating the NilBy: Shirley Tessler

The Philosophy of Symbiosis and Eco-Media CityBy: Kisho Kurokawa

Realising IT 2000By: Saw Ken Wye

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Multimedia: Technology Dimensions and Challenges 21By: Nikil JayantjBryan Ackland/Victor Lawrence

A Pragmatic Approach to Training IT Profesionals: 22Challenges and IssuesBy: Parmjit Singh

Education 2020 Now 23By: Dr. Eric Garrigue Vesely

IT Human Resource: The Scene for the Next Decade 24By: Z.A.Bakar/Mashkuri Yaacob

Quality Factors in Higher Education: Can we Really 25Establish them?By: Raj Gururajan/Trish Sheerwood

Internet Applications-the Malaysian Library Scene 26By: Abdullah Kadir Bacha

Desk Videoconferencing 27By: Phil Taylor

New Worlds to Conquer: The Business of Business 28On the InternetBy: Muthu Nedumaran

Delivering Interactive Television Services on the Information 29SuperhighwayBy: Zuan Lim

Stategic Ini.liatives for the Malaysian Information Infrastructure 30By: Dr. JamesL.Clark/Dr.Syed V.Ahamed

Technologies for E-Commerce 21By: Dr.S.V.Raghavan

Using Innovative strategies 22By: Dr.Sureshwaran Ramadass

Search Engines Performance and a Novel Information 23Retrival ModelBy: Tengku Mohd T Sembok

Impact of E-Commerce on Next Generation of Call Centres 24By: Vincent Koh

MSC to Fast-Track Local IT R&D 25By: Dr Yap Chee Sing

E-Co=erce and Data Mining 26By: Yazid Atan

Intellectual Capital Knowledge Management 27By: Prof.Dr. Zaharin Yusoff

S'ocial and Cultural Impact ofIntelligent (Broadband)Multimedia Networks

(IBMN)

by: Syed V. Ahamed, VictorB. Lawrence

Social and Cultural Impact OfI~telligent (Broadband) Multimedia Networks

(IBMN)

Syed V. Ahamed and Victor B. Lawrence

AT&T Bell Laboratories

Middletown, New Jersey

Kevwords: Cultural change, developing countries, distributed systems, intelligentJlCl)vorks, knowledge processing, knowledge bases, society, social change.

Abstract: Intelligent information technologies are being systematically introduced to the)lliVllte, business, educational, and public sectors of our society. The power and potential of,,ibolechnologies involve novel features and services that have personal, corporate, social andilUItural implications. The implications for the users of the global information handlingf@ities are comparable to the combined impact of the ongoing new telephone services and~ ~.omputer revolution since the I950s. Easy worldwide data base access, coupled withIOlaIly accurate and nearly instantaneous response at affordable prices, brings home a new#ll5eof power that the knowledge society has promised in the I990s. The corruption by the~ that these technologies bring to the minds of individuals is as likely as the contaminationI)y the fall-out that the nuclear power plant brought to the town of Chemobyl. The misuse of

. h' information-technology power in the social context is as probable as the misuse ofil!dear power in the political context, and so on. The personal, corporate, social and cultural

~t that these technologies bring are well documented, but they are not without the, g damage that can result from the corruption of the mind and the misuse of such

. '- ologies, This paper is a public discussion of an impact still to shock the evolving~eties during the next generation.

,.INTRODUCTION

Information technology encompasses the realm of computer and communication~ologieswithout any conceptual, device or system boundaries. It is based on processing, !he knowledge and its delivery the derived knowledge contained in the information over the

dJ.$itil pipes that crisscross the world. In a true sense, it blends computing with, unicating and computers into intelligent communication systems. Intelligent information

ology (lIT) extends beyond this composite discipline and pennits a new and powerfulIJPli9n to process the knowledge being communicated based on the principles of artificial

. igence and knowledge engineering and then uses the concepts of intelligent networks tounicate the derived knowledge. Information technologies have been evolving for the last

.decades 'and gaining rapid momentum during the last decade. Systems deploy the novelcom6inations of the two major forces (computers and communications) in an intelligent and

,directed solution of knowledge imd content-based problems. These systems areo'grammal:ile, adaptive, algorithmic and provide solutions based on the dynamic conditions

lba{ iIifluence the solution of any particular problem

Two major forces nurturing the intelligent information technologies are the world-widelance of the intelligent network platformsl !] and of the discipline of knowledge

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(IBMN)

processing [21. Each plays a significant role, and each is based upon a trail of precedents. Firs/,intelligent network platforms are based upon the existence of well-planned telecorrimunicationnetworks with its very own signaling system and (557) network and then lhe ~v~lution of thearchitecture from IN/I [11, IN/1+, IN/2 ['I, and then to AIN ['I. Even here, thefo'rces towardsinformation highways and multimedia 161 traffic to traverse these highways have a dramaticinfluence. Second, knowledge processing is based upon the programmability and softwaremodules to perform AI functions (such as recognize patterns, evolve relationships betweenobjects, visualize and "see" complex situations and derive the cause and effect relations, andextend reasoning, etc.). The development of intelligent information technologies can thus betraced to these two synergistic forces (intelligent networking and knowledge processing) inthe modern society leading it to be more productive, optimal and efticient

1,1 NE1WORK PERSPECTIVE

Networks have passed through their infancy as the telephone and packet-switched­networks. They have been introduced in homes, businesses and computational facilities forfour decades. They have recently emerged in the public arena in the form of 800(Freephonelll

), 911 (emergency'I), 700 (personal numberl 'l), networks. In addition, thecombined telecommunication and personal computer networks will continue to mature asIntegrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs)16J Four stages of evolution are evident: islandISDN, regional ISDN, national I5DN and international ISDN. The regional telephoneoperating companies[7, 8, 9) in the United States have offered BRI5DN at customer rates of 144kilobits per second since the mid 1980s The line rate is standardized at L60 kilobits persecond and the line code is standardized at 2B I Q code[') Also, in this context, thetelecommunication industry has standardized the bit rates of the various customer Channels.The standard B or the switched channel is at 64 kilobits per second and provides a transparentdata channel between any terminals equipped to handle the ISDN services. The standard Dchannel is at 16 kilobits per second (for BRISON) and remains open between the CentralOffice and the customer. Here, the 144 kilobits per second/customer rate offers the use of 2B .channels, plus the 1D (2B+D) channel for communication. The standard D channel is at 64kilobits per second [for all the other rates such as HO or (5B+D), HI or (1IB+D) andPRISDN). The main use of this low-rate channel is to provide basic line functions, such as linescanning, telemetering, customer premises security, etc.

From the perspective of modern telecommunications, the primary entry of global packetnetwork in the public domain is the INTERNET[IO] It is adaptive and efficient in the routingand bandwidth allocation. Even though the concept of adaptive intelligence has been inherentin the telephone and computer networks, INTERNET optimally blends the most desirablefeatures of computer networks with local and packet switching. The context of machineintelligence revolves around the digital processing of data and adaptation of control data. Tothis extent, the introduction of electronic switching in the Electronic S",itching Systems(ESSTM) [III in the telephone Central Offices has been a major landmark in the use of refinedalgorithmic adaptability in the telecommunications industry. The explosive trend in the dataprocessing field, which compliments the intelligent processing of the control data lochanne!­the information in the telecommunication network, catalyzes the power arid the potential ofthe information distributing networks that move gigabits of data around the world at the dropof a hat

Information networks are evolving rapidly, becoming digital and gearing themselvestowards the· multimedia market. The evolutionary path of the networks has become

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exponential from the very local to the very global. Data rates range from a few hundred bitsper second of the past to the few tens of gigabits per second over optical fibers. Theinformation content ranges from telegraphic data of the past to HDTY quality movies andpictures (audio and "ideo) of the present.

Digital networks are classified as local area networks (LANs), campus networks,metropolitan area networks (MANs), and wide area networks (WANs) 'vIost of the WANsIre natiomil networks, or even global networks. Most of the networks are becoming digitalIIld universal to carry all types (audio or video, textual or graphic, voice or data) of traffic.The physical range ·is not a limit to their access capability. More recently, the traditionaldistinction between the circuit-switched network and packet switched network is vanishingbecause offastpacket-switching is inherently built in ATM 1l2} Now we have AIM as thetqllacement for.(almost) all networks; and fiber, wireless, fiber and wireless or fiber and cableIS the replacements· for the traditional telecommunications media. With that comes the era ofcheap and universal ATM switches trying to become the replacement of the massive ESS.I!Iectronic·switching still prevails even though optical switching looms on a distant horizon ..

The extent of intelligence incorporated in these networks depends upon their capabilitiesIIld a profile for optimally. handling the basic communication nJnctions For example, in anational network where private data bases are embedded, the minimum extent of incorporatedintelligence should be able to accomplish query handling from the users, evaluate the mostlo~caJ data base to scan for the answer, address and dispatch the query, accomplish the pathrouting, perfoml the appropriate data base search, retrieve the answer, and do a retransmit ofthe answer back to the original user, all completed in a reasonable time and in an economic­optimal way without wasting the network resources. The adaptive intelligence can become anorder of magnitude more complex than that in the LANs where most of the basic functionsare done by the tenninals or computers that these LANs interconnect. Most of the networksF\lposed now for metropolitan areas with national and intemational access have vast amountsofmemory and adaptive processing capability incorporated in them for new services, signaling!Swell as routing, economy, and security. Distributed processing concepts, algorithms, 1131 andgeneral purpose information handling and processing (DSP) chips[I4! all support the design andreaJization of these intelligent information technologies. The system architecture is now re­bilored towards processing and communicating knowledge rather than numerical processing.

1.2 KNOWLEDGE PROCESSING IN NETWORKS..

Knowledge processing has been an integral part of knowledge engineering since earlyeighties. These concepts from knowledge engineering have matured into well-accepteddisciplines such as artificial intelligenceII '}, expert systems[I61, pattern recognitionl"l, andwmputer vision [1'.19) and even robotics. These topics prepare engineers to design and buildlUlomated computer-based response systems. For example, expert systems permit the user to

'get the opinion(s)" of one or more experts in the field as they may respond to the query oftbeuser. Such opinions are generated from a knowledge base organized as an ultra-large andlOphisticated data structure. The query has enough details and precision for a computersystem to generate a response as the expert(s) would have responded. General queries receivebroad, shallow infomlation and specific queries receive precise, in depth information Thus inI sense knowledge (or the jnfoonation) can be engineered to satisfy users in a '·ariety oflituations.

As an another example, consider computer vision. When blood samples are drawn frompatients, the scanning for certain types of cells with specific structure can be automated. This

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processing 12

1. Each plays a significant role, and each is based upon a trail of precedents First,intelligent network platforms are based upon'theexistenc~of well-planned tefetbinmunicationnetworks with its very own signaling system and (SS7) network and then the ~vCllution of thearchitecture from IN/I Ill, IN/I+, IN/2 (41, and then to AIN ('] Even here, the'fi;rces towardsinformation highways and multimedia (6) traffic to traverse these highways have a dramaticinfluence. Second, knowledge processing is based upon the programmability and softwaremodules to perform AI functions (such as recognize patterns, evolve relationships betweenobjects, visualize and "see" complex situations and derive the cause and effect relations, andextend reasoning, etc.) The development of intelligent information technologies can thus betraced to these two synergistic forces (intelligent networlcing and knowledge processing) inthe modem society leading it to be more productive, optimal and efficient.

1.1 NElWORK PERSPECTIVE

Networks have passed through their infancy as the telephone and packet-switched­networks. They have been introduced in homes, businesses and computational facilities forfour decades. They have recently emerged in the public arena in the form of 800(Freephonelll

), 911 (emergency'I), 700 (personal numbet'I), networks. In addition, thecombined telecommunication and personal computer networks will continue to mature asIntegrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs)!61Four stages ef evolution are evident 'islandISDN, regional ISDN, national ISDN and international ISDN. The regional telephoneoperating companiesl7··, 9( in the United States have offered BRlSDN at ·customer rates of 144lcilobits per second since the mid 1980s. The line rate is standardized at 1.60 lcilobits persecond and the line code is standardized at 2B IQ code!') Also, in this context, thetelecommunication industry has standardized the bit rates of the various customer channels.The standard B or the switched channel is at 64 kilobits per second and provides a transparentdata channel between any terminals equipped to handle the ISDN services. The standard Dchannel is at 16 lcilobits per second (for BRlSDN) and remains open between the CentralOffice and the customer. Here, the 144 kilobits per second/customer rate offers the use of 2B .channels, plus the ID (2B+D) channel for communication. The standard D channel is at 64kilobits per second [for all the other rates such as HO or (5B+D), HI or (lIB+D) andPRlSDNj. The main use of this low-rate channel is to provide basic line functions, such as linescanning, telemetering, customer premises security, etc.

From the perspective of modem telecommunications, the primary entry of global packetnetwork in the public domain is the INTERNETlloJ. It is adaptive and efficient in the routingand bandwidth allocation. Even though the concept of adaptive intelligence has been inherentin the telephone and computer networks, INTERNET optimally blends the most desirablefeatures of computer networks with local and packet switching. The' context of machineintelligence revolves around the digital processing of data and adaptation of c6ntrol data. Tothis extent, the introduction of electronic switching in the Electronic Switching Systems(ESSTM) 1111 in the telephone Central Offices has been a major landmark in the' us~ of refinedalgorithmic adaptability in the telecommunications industry. The explosive' trend in the dataprocessing 'field, which compliments the intelligent processing of the coritrol daia to.chimnel·the information in the telecommunication network, catalyzes the power and the potential ofthe information distributing networks that move gigabits of data around the world at the dropof a hat.

Information networks are evolving rapidly, becoming digital and gearing themselvestowards the· multimedia market. The evolutionary path of the networks has become

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exponential from the very local to the very global Data rates range from a few hundred bitsper second of the past to the few tens of gigabits per second over optical fibers Theinfonnation content ranges· from telegraphic data of the past to HDTV quality movies andpictures (audio and "ideo) of the present.

Digital networks are classified as local area networks (LANs), campus networks,metropolitan area networks (MANs), and wide area networks (WA.~s) \1ost of the WANs·are national networks, or even global networks. Most of the networks are becoming digitaland universal to carry all types (audio or video, textual or graphic, voice or data) of traffic'The physical range is not a limit to their access capability. More recently, the traditionaldistinction between the circuit-switched network and packet switched network is vanishingbecause of fast packet-switching is inherently built in ATM t121. Now we have AIM as thereplacement for. (almost) all networks; and fiber, wireless, fiber and wireless Dr fiber and cableas the replacements for the traditional telecommunications media. With that comes the era ofcheap and universal AIM switches trying to become the replacement of the massive ESS.Electronic switching still prevails even though optical switching looms on a distant horizon ..

The extent of intelligence incorporated in these networks depends upon their capabilitiesand a profile for optimally. handling the basic communication fiJnctions For example, in anational network where private data bases are embedded, the minimum extent of incorporatedintelligence should be able to accomplish query handling from the users, evaluate the mostlogical data base to scan for the answer, address and dispatch the query, accomplish the pathrouting, perfoml the appropriate data base search, retrieve the answer, and do a retransmit ofthe answer back to the original user, all completed in a reasonable time and in an economic­optimal way without wasting the network resources. The adaptive intelligence can become anorder of magnitude more complex than that in the LANs where most of the basic functionsare done by the tenninals or computers that these LANs interconnect Most of the networksproposed now for metropolitan areas with national and international access have vast amountsof memory and adaptive processing capability incorporated in them for new services, signalingas well as routing, economy, and security. Distributed processing concepts, algorithms, "'I andgeneral purpose information handling and processing (DSP) chips!l4( all suppon the design andrealization of these intelligent information technologies. The system architecture IS now re­tailored towards processing and communicating knowledge rather than numerical processing

1,2 KNOWLEDGE PROCESSING IN NETWORKS

Knowledge processing has been an integral part of knowledge engineering since earlyeighties. These concepts from knowledge engineering have matured into well-accepted

'disciplines such as artificial intelligencel"l, expert systems!l6 I, pattern recognitiori 17J , andcomputer vision (18,19( and even robotics. These topics prepare engineers to design and buildautomated computer-based response systems. For example, expen systems pem1it the user to

"get the opinion(s)" of one or more experts in the field as they may respond to the query ofthe user Such opinions are generated from a knowledge base organized as an ultra-large andsophisticated data structure. The query has enough details and precision for a computer:,ystem to generate a response as the expen(s) would have responded. General quel;es receive.broad, shallow information and specific queries receive precise, in depth information Thus ina sense knowledge (or the infonnation) can be engineered to satisfy users in a variety ofSituations

As an another example, consider computer vision. When blood samples are drawn frompatients, the scanning for cenain types of cells with specific structure can be a~110m3ted This

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is accomplished··by forcing the microscope image to be presented on a computer screen.Ori 'this screen, the cell boundaries form dark "pixels", and the computer can "see" such··boundaries and detect if such boundaries match the boundaries of speCific cells that areexpected (or are not expected). Thus in a sense, the computer can be trained to match .patterns as in "pattern matching" at an elementary level, or "see" images as in "computervision" at an advanced level. Both pattern matching and computer vision have a flITnmathematical foundation since the match can be less than perfect and the attributes found maynot be exactly what the computer was programmed to find. Thus a certain degree ofuncertainty and lack of precision [19) may accrue. Thus the concepts of probability a~dconfidence levels also arise in These disciplines. .

However, if these results do verge on being valid say, 90% or 95% of the time, then theyare better than no results at all. For this reason, knowledge processing and its associatedfunctions (which are in fact parts and modules) of knowledge engineering are finding moreand more acceptance in society. Such applications are numerous and computer systems arededicated to performing these well-accepted functions routinely, such as identifying the barcode in grocery stores or voices in voice-activated systems.

In a traditional sense, the earlier machines that perform these knowledge functions aregeneral purpose computer systems with intricate layers of software which permit them toaccomplish knowledge processing. Hardware realizations of processors and architectures ofsystems specifically dedicated to processing knowledge directly from "objects", their"attributes", or "other pieces of information" is the main forte of these novel networks. Thesemachines process intermediate objects, their attributes, or modules of information to reach agoal, much like conventional computers process numbers to reach other targeted numbers orresults quantified as numbers.

The compilers for these machines procps input queries like the compilers of scientificcomputer languages and try to identify intemlediate objects (from the past experience and theattributes of interacting objects), and the ways and means to get such objects (from theforward, backward and indirect pointers to and from such objects), and to associate them(from a history of associations, if any). Complex queries need long and intricate knowledgeprocessing and there can be a certain level of ambiguity or uncertainty in the processing.Learning and compromising during problem solution for these new machines becomes asmuch an integral part as pattern matching and data base searching in the older computersystems that do knowledge processing. The functions of the knowledge processing machinesare necessary in the proposed machines but they become tools and commands within themachines.

1.3 EVOLUTIONARY PLANNING

The personal and social impact of these high-speed information technologies has not beenprobed .in any depth, even though the economic impact of these information bearing networkshas been recognized throughout the world. Enormous amounts of effort and resources havebeen dedicated toward establishing the interfaces 'for the local and the global exchange ofinformation via these networks, The technical and interface issues are completely resolved andinterface devices are available for BRISON and PRISON services. International ISDNservices and lines also exist between certain selected countries. The Tl D I committees in theUnited States and in the CCITT committees!'O] on the European continent have streamlinedthe ISDN services between the two continents and also with Japan. International ISDN andbroadband ISDN are realities now.

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. flBMN]

lSDN and other morc sophisticated (such as wireless, personal communication networks,cellular, satellite, and fiber optic) networks become major roadways to and from the opticalinfomlation highways. National and regional gateways with ATM type switches are theinterchal)ges and signaling system 7 (SS7) is the protocol and rules' for data exchange. Userswho have unsurpassed navigational skills can use the IIT to great advantage. In a societywhere knowledge is power, these super-users can exploit the ignorant at a social cost andcultural e,xploitation The personal and social impact on humans, corporations and culturesthat will have access to such networks will be the critical areas of concern in this paper. Butmore than thal, the quantity of information, the accuracy and the speed of delivery at anytime,at any place, and anywhere, is an area of serious concern. These are the information networksthat accomplish complex information functions like computers accomplish complex numericalfunctions.

The convergence of the two (computers and communication) technologies' is bearing fruitin an economic and :a materialistic sense. The world has become smaller offering thesophisticated user new dimensions of power Scientists can instruct the computer to look into

!outer space, force the particles to approach the velocity of light, jump into virtual reality, etc.Impossible as it may have been yesterday, realistic it remains today, silly it milY turn tomorrowThe underlying dilemma for the politicians and country planners lingers on. Is this trendbringing order to society? Are the changes all desirable" Is culture the sacrificial goat to thedemon cifprogress? Was the nuclear energy necessary for its price? Are the fluorocarbons ofthe 1950s extracting their toll in the 1990s1 Did we make a mess of it all?

This paper is not a crystal ball with answers, but it presents a close look at what hashappened. and what is likely to happen if the success stories of the developed nations aredirectly imported in the developing countries. There is a lot to be gained, yet a lot of cautionis in order. We present a discussion and some steps towards integrating the maze of intelligentinformation technologies and intelligent broadband multimedia networks (ffiMN) in thedeveloping countries.

II. THE EVOLVING KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY

The progress of the industrial society towards becoming a knowledge society is slow butsteady. As more and more mechanical and industrial functions are being handled byintelligen( digitally controlled systems (such as robots and numerically controlled machines).'the network control of these sophisticated control units becomes more and more imminent.Networks have the unique'capacity to respond and communicate quickly, efficiently, andoptimally. Hence, the concept of global control (via intelligent networks) is feasible within thecontext of embedded knowledge in the form of data bases. Such an environment fosters a newIbreed of worker, a "knowledge worker," in the knowledge society. It is here that intelligenceand knowledge have to be merged together, because it appears that one is ineffectual withoutthe other.· Such a constraint demands that the worker who uses the knowledge beunderstanding of the framework in which that kno\yledge was generated. In like manner. thesame constraint demands that the worker who generated that knowledge be understanding ofthe framework in which that knowledge is going to be used. Both of these demands on thetwo groups of workers preclude the capacity to understand each others' environments. andthis is not a trivial requirement. Two implications follow: first, both sets of workers need newWId refined knowledge tools to work and second, communication between these worker setsmtist be quick, efficient and optimal. These implications are discussed further.

2.1 THE NEW KNOWLEDGE TOOLS. "

Knowledge has structure and language has grammar. The expression of the knowledge isby words ofthe language bou'nd by the rules of grammar. If one extend,ed the idea of beinggrammatical to the strucfure of knowledge, then algorithms and optimiZation of conceptualrelations fonn the "words" in the language of knowledge. It is our contention that funciionalmodules that accomplish algorithmic steps in the processing of information and achie"eoptimization be considered as the tools of the knowledge worker. The classification of thesetools should not be limited to the two types (algorithms and optimization) because the rangeof functions accomplished by such tools can be as varied as the range of words in a language.However, standardiZation of the algorithmic functions should be attempted, just as thestandardization of words is in the dictionary of any language.

Algorithmic and functional tools can assume any form, ranging from utility routines,P')control memories in microcode,[12) integrated circuit chips,(23

) or composite devices to digitalsignal processing units, micros, or computational systems. Therefore, in the knowledgeenvironment, the tools at the disposal of the worker can be algorithmic or' algebraic, small orlarge, qualit~tive or quantitative, software or hardware, integrated or diversi'fied systems. .'

.;:' I

2.2 THE NEW COMMUNICATION METHODOLOGIES

The features of digital communication make it optimal in most network environments.Even in face-to-face human communication via networks, the trend is towards making all thetransmission andrecovery of information in the digital format by digitally encoded speech andvideo signals. The major steps of most of the information technologies in becoming totallydigital have been documented.[") The recent research is directed towards the choice ofefficient code,12'j error correction,l26! and fault tolerancel27) in the particular networkenvironment. However, this effort promises only a marginal gain due to the increasedbandwidth of the newer media, especially optical fiber and coaxial cable.

The second aspect of the communication between the workers deals with the humanaspect. Audio-visual communication has a proven edge over audio communication alone. Theselection of the tools for the audio visual communication calls for newer algorithms,[2'1functions,I2.9\ and standards. [30) Progress is well \lnderway, to inyorporate the graphiccommands 'in most languages to facilitate the communications ·between workers via networksand intelligent graphic terminals. ~31) Powerful graphics chips[32) are currently available frommost major vendors.

'. .. : ;

Information .highways carry high-speed data between communication centers distributedthroughout the ·world. Optical fiber is the most eligible media from both speed and distanceconsiderations.• Rates close to a hundred gigabits per second over one hundred kilometers (ifnot longer) are realizable. Quantum-well laser sources and optical compound semiconductordetectors make up the transceivers. A few photons per bit will do just fine in this (almost)noise-free single mode photonic carrier system,· Optical repeaters are far and few in between,making information highways around the continents and across the oceans more like campusnetworks spanning different buildings. But -that is only a small possibility. Imagine the otherhigh-speed media that is already' installed. With'critically placed high-speed switching facilitiesat strategic loca.tions, informati'on highways will carry gigabits of data from one point toanother around the globe, much like the cbmputer buses that carry electronic information fromone device to another within the micrbcomputer. Is our world becoming smaller?

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III. IMPACT ON SOCIETY

In this section, we focus on the social i~pact of IBMN as it is likely to appear in thepersonal lives, public, educational, service, and corporate sectors Jthe social environment.

3.1 PERSONAL LIVES

3.1.1 USE AND MISUSE IN PERSONAL LIFE

The newer services that IBMN bring about can be very beneficial. The right choice of auniversity for a high school graduate, the appropriate medical center for a patient, networkcontact with educators, political leaders, etc., are examples that enhance the productivity ofindividuals. Preferential viewing can offer customers a better choice .of entertainment and anoptimum use of leisure time. Stocks, bonds, and other consumer items may be purchasedautomatically as the sales prices drop and are billed to a customer account number withappropriate authorization. Nso, a stock market transaction may be' made to follow thealgoritlunic preference of the participant. However" there is one basic difference between thepossible social and personal impact of these intelligent information technologies. When thereis a broad region of possible social impact, it is very likely that the problem and its implicationhas been studied by a large number of people. Thus, their collective wisdom has beeninstrumental in adopting the change. On the other hand, if there is an isolated region ofpersonal impact, then the individual may choose to misuse the network, and the impact maywell become counterproductive. Like every step forward, lBMN face the' threat of misuse byindividuals in personal life, by organizations at a corporate level, by societies at a culturallevel, and even by countries at a political level.

3.1.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ISOLATION

The integrated broadband multimedia networks offer high quality, efficient service to anintelligent segment of the population. Networks' responses can be made to be totally accurate,whereas human response is initially inaccurate and needs iterative convergence for theinterrogator to obtain the necessary information !Tom another person. In the process of theinteractio'1, the two people learn more about the problem and about each other. This teachesone the ethics of the social environment in which one lives. Now consider the network ...environment. The ease, accuracy, and extent of the network response can be learned andmastered to a precise science. Typical device inter.faces for the new information technologiesare just as intolerant of input error as they are accurate in their responses to human input.Consequently, it is our contention that if the intelligent sector of our population practices highefficiency in day-to-day functions, they will also become intolerant to human communication,thus building highly intelligent knowledge tools rather than social skills needed to get alongwith people and their human eccentricities. People in castl.es of knowledge with a mastery ofnetwork skills and a pair of high-speed lines are manifestatio~s of an information society.

3.1.3 FAMILY STRUCTURE

Network assisted dating services can make instant couples around the nation and globe.E-mail romances are not uncommon. Long distance marriages have occurred. Does thischange the outlook on long-term family life and altering the culture pattern of a spciety. Suchchanges, if any, can make the idea of a traditional family life obsolete. especially for theintelligent sector of society endowed with the inherited or acquired capabilities to use thenetwork. The long-range effect of a lack of family structure for this sector of the population is

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its own extinction, assuming its intelligence is not geared towards its sutvival. Yet. the long:term survival of various species is based upon' instinct rather than intefi·igence.· Heilce.· ihirunderlying implication is a need for test tube babies, incubated in highly controlledenvironments and automated training facilities. Without such facilities, we may only face arapid decrease in the numbers of people who can use the network. Once again, the users ofthe network may have robotic and humanoid tendencies, rather than human and social skills.We find it interesting that this inference is supported by the recognized tendency that isolatedpackets of cultures do not survive over a long period. We can ask the question whether TBMNtend to catalyze the extinction of the intellectually elite or regroup them better for propagationand survival.

The personal impact over a couple of decades can be desirable, neutral, or totallyunwarranted. If the change is not managed by some sort of an ethical or legal framework. thenthe change that such information technologies bring about will influence the direction of thesocial change And. the direction of the prolonged change may violate the civil rights of somepeople, causing social injustice to those who are poor in the new tools (Section 2.2) andmethodologies (Section 2.3) of the knowledge society.

3.2 PUBLIC SECTOR

The use of computer facilities in government agencies is already evident in manycountries. Computer systems routinely handle automobile. tax, social security records, etc.Intelligent information technologies, in addition, provide speed, accuracy, and efficiency oftransmission together with the ease of global data base functions. Typically. information islocalized with township and county governments, and the impact of intelligent LANs andMANs can be significant. The impact of national and global information technologies isminimal in these situations, except when national records on key individuals, resources, taxes,sensitive information, et ctc., can be accessed remotely. The documented effects ofcomputerized access of data have prompted many municipalities (state and local governingbodies) to take the first steps in acquiring and using low-level, stane-alone micros. The fullimpact of networking in the small public offices and townships has alreadv emergedlHI

Federal agencies operate under different conditions and constraints The data bases maybe widely dispersed, national security may be of concern, military data may be at stake, a localor national emergency may exist, etc. Networking has a profound effect upon the access ofthe relevant au'thoritative information. Intelligence embedded in information teclmologiesolfers speed, accuracy, confirmation, and optimality of the retrieved infornlation at the fintlevel. At the second level, the network or local computer can offer intelligent data basequerying faciliti~s. At the third level of intelligence, the network may provide a "what iC'facility available in some of the more refined Management Information Systems (MIS) At.thefourth level, a full-fledged Decision Support System (DSS)I34] facility may be attempted.According to the currently available technology, the intelligent network may be designed toolfer the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (Al) functions,llS] such as Pattern Recognition(PRjI"l and Expert Alert Systems (EAS)[)61 PR can be used for automatic detection ofimminent earthquakes, severe weather conditions, deternlining network information leaks, etc.EAS can be used for checking and conferring with a group of experts, finding and tapping thesupporting decision-making evidence, etc The impact of IBMN is profound in thesecircumstances, and there are definite areas of possible use and misuse.

3.3 EDUCATIONAL SECTOR

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.There is a three-fold impact in the educational sector. First, universities are a fertileground for new' concepts. Some of the basic ideas for the ALO'-lA network were developed atthe University of Hawaii, and the simulation programs in the "C" languagel37 ! were coded bythe University of California for the two-wire, high-speed data transmission systems for use inthe ISDN, even though these simulation studies were perfonned initially at AT&T BellLaboratories at Whippany, New Jersey.tJ'! Second, at the school level, the networks are veryeffective tools for computer-assisted education arid resource/data-base sharing betweenschools. Third, the existence of terminals, nodes, and computer-network-interface gear helpsthe young students to conceive and intemalize the use and the impact of the advancedtechnological evolution of the 1980s. The utilization of intelligent systems and informationtechnologies in the educational environment ,.is, perhaps, ,the most effective method inpreparing the young minds of any natior. to cope with the transition towards the knowledgesociety.

The use of networks in graduate research, library searches, faculty searches, administrativeRlpport, and student records has already begun at schools and colleges around the world. This\lend is likely to grow i.n the next decade. The existence of intelligence 'in the informationtechnologies is not, in iiself, of great consequence since the current usage is routine and therole of the technology is likely to continue in the service mode. However. the quality ofQIlTent service is bound to improve, and newer services can be easily appended.

3,4 SERVICE SECTOR

Routine services will become faster, more efficient, and cheaper with the introduction of!he information technologies. Innovative service will expand and multiply.!39] PrevalentIIlVices, such as telephone banking, facsimile, telex, etc., are prime examples of routineIIlVices., However, personalized news service, on-demand video sports, personalized tele-

service, and so forth, are examples of newer services ffiMN promise to bring home. tomers, The technology to build these networks exists and is being actively deployed for

te ISDN, The gradual and phased introducrion of tllis network is well along the way in the'ed States, Japan, and Europe. '

The services offered in our society are too numerous to list or ;,tudy the impact of'dually, Accordingly, we classifY the services as being critical or non-critical services insociety, and indicate that the intelligent network will have a more profound impact uponaitica1,services. Information technologies feature quick access, and intelligence offers

and effectiveness for performing critical services, For example, medical services will, an.inunense amount of benefit through finding the right procedures by being in contact

experts, by finding the quickest corrective measures, and through maintenance with anfacility for blood banks, organ banks, etc.

National security services, federal investigation services, inunigration serVices,t agencies, and most credit rating companies all have some network facility even

the extent of embedded intelligence may vary dramatically. As the data transmissionlid the intelligence are both enhanced, the functions these service organizations perfonn

enhanced. The extent of the impact lies in the judicious choice of the alternative for, nof the network capabilities.

" services also face a bright prospect with the introduction of intelligent information'es. Data bases of customer preferences and the matching of products offer higher

fbtential. Machine or network-assisted product and shop selection can spur a half-

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motivated customer. In addition, automated dialing can save the sales person time;. tnu!'1enabling more sales to be made. The impact of such techniques upon the stimulation of the',1economy is an area of future sales strategies.

Most service industries aD in a position to gain three-fold from the phased introduction or'the intelligent imormation :echnoJogies. First, the quality of service will improve in providing'faster and more up-to-the-second infonnation. Second, the cost of providing such service isgoing to spiral downward because of cost sharing of these networks. T7lird, the range ofservices will improve because of the national and global data base access the customers will,use to scan for services that meet their needs. Travel, banking, and the hotel and reson.industry are likely to be the immediate beneficiaries, if they are not already receiving therewards of the limited versions of the intelligent information technologies. In essence.immediate date-base access and improved service aspects are most likely to impact the criticalservices, whereas the improved services and reduced-cost aspects are likely to impact thenoncritical services. Both of these impacts are likely to be profound over the next twodecade;.

3.5 CORPORATE, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS

Intense economic activities by corporations are likely to bring new options and choices ata personal level. The use or misuse of these powerful information technologies is equallylikely. For example, the abuse of drugs, the misuse of the visual media to propagatepornography and disguise of a camel to cover the danger of smoking are some of theprevalent examples in society. An instance occurs when children choose to spend anexcessive proportion of their time watching television. The intelligent broadband multimedianetworks offer a higher quality and quantity of distractions at a personal level.

The fact is that information technologies can provide productive, counterproductive, and:sometimes harmful information with equal ease, accessibility, and accuracy. For example, if allthe sales information on high-quality guns and ammunition is made available to a psychotic, anescaped convict, or a ring of arms bootleggers, the social cost would be enormous. Althoughthe usage intelligence is still in the mind of the users, an ethical or legal framework formanaging information is desirable, although a legalistic framework can block the flow ofinformation in certain undesirable directions.

For all of the experience in the drug laws and surveillance, there is still a lack of control,let alone a prevention, over the misuse of drugs and drug addiction in the United States. Theproblem does not stop here because the economics of drugs is radically different from theeconomics of information. Information may be true or false, factual or misconstrued,documentable or gossip, objective or subjective, etc. Once broadcasted, the value ofinformation is lost, and the public media can propagate information inexpensively, whether itis true or false, factual or misconstrued, etc. For this reason, the need for a social, cultural,ethical, or federal agency to monitor these information technologies is most urgent. High,speed information networks with embedded super-anificial intelligence face the threat ofbeing misused to become well-organized international crime and espionage tools. Socialintelligence atop IBMN makes or breaks the benefits that society can receive.

The monetary worth of the information and its timeliness playa signifIcant role in businessand industry. Pertinent and timely knowledge has economic worth. At the corporate andorganizational level, sensitive information can make or break major decisions. The socialimpact of the resulting actions of major companies is very significant, in both positive and

Ahamcd ~ La...".,.enec - 11lmp.sC1 Qflntelll&eT1t (Broadb.and) Mu.Jtimcdia Nerwom

(LBI\.{N)

negative di~~ctions For example, during the expansion phase of a business cycle, the size ·andlocation '. or a production plant influences the local economy and the jobs within thecODumil)ity.Accurate informatipn provided by an lntelligerit network plays a role, here. Asanother example, during a crisis (such as the nerve gas teak from the Union Carbide plant inBhopal, India or the nuclear reactor blowout in Chemobyl in the former Soviet Unic'!), anintelligent network can automatically,l'} or in conjunction with the user, perform many criticaldamage aversion and life saving functions. Quick and advisory information provided by anintelligent network plays a crucial role in this primary impact on the business and industrialsector.

In the industrial environment, the availability of technical information in the design support.and production of the industrial product has a profound impact upon corporate profIts and·survival, as well as on the social ramifications of corporate decisions. Many high-technology .industries depend upon the high speed of access and accuracy of the algorithms used in theVery Large Scale Integration (VLSl) for integrated circuit chip design. Networking plays a:dramatic role here. Intelligent LANs are crucial in the manufacture ot VLSI chips and in theproduction of automobiles in automated assembly lines. Intelligent MANs and nationalnetworks[40 j 'already support most of the major VLSI facilities and most of the personalizedautomobile production facilities. The social and personal impact of these informationtechnologies is far-reaching in these types of industries, as far as the new devices and theirsubsequent impact. For example, the influence that low bit "speak and spell" devicesi'llmarketed by Texas Instruments has upon the education of non-native children. Thus, theenviromnent is richer because of both the primary and then the secondary product impact ofthese intelligent technologies and networks.

VI. CULTURAL INFLUENCE

4.1 PROGRESSION

Certain social effects are apparent due to the new services and the newer forms ofcommunications. The divestiture of the Bell System under the consent decree of 1982 has hadits impact upon the telephone bills, though not all totally desirable. Total deregulation of thetelephone serVices (predicted by the authors in 19871411), the next major step from the judicialarm of the Government or the Federal Communications Commission, has already happelled.Some of the pathway is paved for the Operating, Companies to get into the long-distanceselVices. Cable TV (CATV) networks can offer enhanced features; privately owned localswitches can provide low-bit rate digitally encoded telephone communication; low-speedvideo frame transmit capability can be offered over telephone lines, etc. The deregulation isstarting to have its full impact. The cost of such services is bound to decrease because the~nh~ced bandwidth for transmission is available (fibers and cable TV networks), switchingcosts are decreasing (a larger number of vendors for small PBXs, major electronic switching,systems and ATM switches), and network control is becoming cheaper (the digital revolution;and low-cost VLSI). .

Two consequences of direct social value are (1) reduced cost for a higher quality servicelike the price reduction of newer microcomputers, and (2) expanded bandwidth forcommunication like the availability of the ISDN services. As we have discussed, both the use~d misuse of the networks due to reduced cost for higher quality service will ensue. As we,discuss next, the consequence of expanded bandwidth has a more serious ramification. If the.embedded intelligence of the network is supplemented by the natural intelligence of the

Ahamood <I: wwrme...lllmpkt ofln:dhgClU (Broadband) Multimcdi. t-:er.vcrb

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sophisticated user, the potential· increases by an order of magnitude. The natural intelligence··;and the sophistication of use can be the privilege of a few. Since intelligent networks can only ..convey knowledge in the fonn of digitized infonnation, they can bring about an alienationbetween those who know and those who know not. They can also bring about isolation forthCi,;e who wish to practice high efficiency with totally accurate network commands, thus .leading to a less tolerant society and perhaps more violence because of reduced interpersonalcommunications skills.

Organizations generally have more resources than individuals to tap the intelligence innetworks. Knowledge is power and power can generate more corporate revenue, thus fuelingthe spread of bureaucratic corporations and weakening the ignorant. Since 70 percent of theworld population is illiterate, there is reason to suspect that the gap will only widen. Next,consider the .remaining 30 percent; technical expertise and broad overall networkunderstanding is possible only for a few, thus making them some of the most sought after andhighly paid corporate employees. The effect of this need is the creation of a packet ofrelatively few key people who may choose to misuse their knowledge skills and tools for largefinancial rewards or even for mischief as the super-users learn to find loopholes in the networkintelligence. Recently there have been examples where bank employees have been able togradually withdraw substantial sums of money for their personal use by breaking into thenetworks as super-users of the system. As another example, a group of very smart kids havebeen able to get at sensitive defense infonnation.

On the positive side, the economic rewards are too numerous to list individually. In abroad sense, the increased speed, accuracy, and the global access at affordable costs can onlyenhance the individual and societal productivity dramatically. Exchange of data bases andknowledge tools between cooperating individuals and entities can spur the economy and bringabout a better quality of life for most people. Travel, entertainment, leisur.e andcommunications industries will all be sizable beneficiaries of intelligent networks. Nationsparticipating in the encouragement of these ~etw6rks in the national environment can facilitatethe growth of the economy and education. thus accelerating the literacy and training of youngminds to cope. with and to live well in an emerging knowledge society.

The evolution of educational networks has already started to happen. Network basededucational systems can be built as easily as distributed campus-networks 1';."1 Intelligenceand knowledge processing .in t.hese networks is as logical' as arithmetic processing in thecentral processor units. The' control memories for the "nationwide CPU" are the knowledge.bases wherein knowledge is distributed according to the Dewey Decimal Ciassification ofsubjects in the libraries around the world. We have a massive fabric of intelligent informatiolltechnologies that automate learning by students and the teaching at the universities.

Intelligent' medical networks 1"."1 have started to overhaul the medical environment.Intelligent infonnation technologies bring all the features of computer and knowledgeprocessing to the patients, doctors, hospitals, medical ~ent.ers and the medical colleges. Theimpact ranges.. from automated accounting, insurance and Medicaid payments, etc. on the onehand to catscans,· tumor 109ation, X-ray diagnostics, etc. on the other hand. Already,paramedics can relay all vitai statistics to hospitals and medical centers to rescue patients inemergencies. Transplants are based on organ donors ar?und the world. Data base matchesrescue lives. in. short: the effects of distance is eradicated betv"een medical experts andpatients. l~tell1gent infonnation technologies in the management of routine medicalprocedures push the profession towards total accuracy of facts and derived knowledge away

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jQm recol1ections and raw data. The opinion of experts is presented assuth. Computer~ andkommunicaircinsin medical profession can oilly be a blessing if the profession does nattum~jVlirdsexPloitalionof the sick, elderly or thewbunded. We make this statement only toIjnike'thereaders aware of the organ "trade"in South America and India. .

,f2REGRESSION

Pollution of infonnation in the minds of young children is much like pollution of the waterEiO.urce to the citizen of a country. Both are essential to grow. Minds of children fonn themelting pots of cultures of tomorrow. The power and potential of the media in our recent pastiswell-documenteQ. For example, dIke the constant P,fopaganda about Hitler's supremacy t.hatalmost destroyed a nation; or take the teaching of Mao to suppress the cultural growth ofChina; or the constant advertisement of the tobacco industry that it is fashionable to smoke.Who really did gain and who really did lose?

The potential abuse and misuse of the intelligent infonnation technologies and ffiMN isobvious. The'responsibility of the telecommunication planners:does not stop at abandoning thelittle regulation lhat prevailed. Stopping at this stage is like taking the masses to a cliff whereIlnancial eager beavers await the cultural descent. Instead, it is appropriate to establish a'different control where pornography is not a fashion, drinking is not an pastime, immorality islIot high society, and ignorance is· not an excuse. In the liberal western countries theboundaries between soci11 responsibility, ethics and legality are being redrawn by everyone,.everyday. There is only a fear of being caught while doing something wrong l In the·developing countries, where there is a different balance between personal, social, ethical, and:business aspe,cts to everyday life, the intelligent infonnation technologies and IBMN shouldnot be directly imported without a framework to control and monitor the possible abuse Ofthese networks and the associated teclinologies.

The right to speak is freedom of speech but the act of broadcasting into the network thatcan reach an entire society is as harmful as planting a virus in a computer network, or evenworse, as dangerous as corrupting the minds of young and uneducated segment of the society.If therds no regulation at all, or the political ann of a country decides to abuse thetechnology, ,hen the future ··of the country can be easily altered. The intelligent use of theintelligent information technologies and ffiMN is very human and slightly spiritual. l.et us notleave the wolves to watch the roost I

4,3 COMPROMISE

Unfortunately, lIT and ffiMN are not tools made to order for the society's progress.Instead, they are a collection of major innovations that promises more reward than retribution.The country planners have the responsibility thrust upon them to bring the best to preserve theculture; . yet io "accelerate the social and economic progress. The compromise appearsdistinctly possible (at least) for the developing countries. The clue ,appears to lie in theselecti~n of the source of information. Garbage into the network is garbage out to the users,young 'imd old alike. ffiMN process and communicate propaganda and lies as effectively asthey process arid communicate facts and truth. We believe the corru'ption starts here if thefreedom of the 'press (in the name of democracy) is transmuted to freedom to broadcastgarbage into the network.

Selling the broadcast licensees to the highest bidders is likely to bring in social exploitersThese exploiters are no more than social hawkers who would take advantage of the fact that a

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child 'is, likely to watch amusement without knowing the difference between fact and fiction,.,thatan:preildolescent is likely to watch pornography without knowing that wives 'and sistersare differenffrom call girls; that an adult is likely to watch news without knowing how andwho is reporting; and so on We 'believe that the social responsibility is not a forte of the'business man who is trying make a fa(s)t buck by selling air waves on the TV microwavespectrum, or selling prime time advertisement on CATV, or for that matter selling membershipon INTERNET corrupted by sexy messages,

There are two distinct ways to filter out such garbage ITom the network, First, in thecountries where these networks are not already established, the country planners have theresponsibility to issue the licensee to the information "sourcers", just as the medical professionlimits the dispensing of drugs to trained practitioners who have taken the Hypocrite oath, orthe Federal agents who take a oath of allegiance before giving them the right to act as Federalagents, and so on,

Information sourcers communicate the content of what they program with millions ofnetwork users and can influence the attitude of a large number of people and this is one'placewhere .the developing countries should exercise some form of control. Democracy in thecountry does not offer some business men the right to corrupt the minds of the citizens

In developed countries, it is feasible to administer a high level group of AI programs thatallocate a rating of any program or information that enters the network for its factual orfictitious content, for its cultural or garbage content, for its educational or amusementcontent; and so on, 'In a sense, the decision or the rating will be an numerical indication of the'value of the information, much like the grade point average of a student entering an graduate .institution, Neither one of the two is a precise number, yet they can be reasonably reliable,

Second, the establishment of widely available, cheap and positive source of informationbased upon documented facts and universality will revert the trend of commercialism, We.explore these two options further in the next section.

V. A PERSPECTIVE AND A PLAN

Change is an insidious process. It assumes many forms. So well is it balanced betweencorruption and progress, that incremental change towards one can be viewed as anincremental change towards the other, Only a long term study of where different cultures havegone can provide an insight to the cause and effect relationship. If it is not monitored, thechange in the disguise of progress slowly but surely replaces comfort for joy, economics formorals· and money for values. In a sense, the pursuit of happiness becomes the pursuit ofwealth, These are the directions of least resistance. How far is such insidious encroachmentto be tolerated is an age long spiritual dilemma, But more than that, in the modern society thatis dawning on the developing countries, the issue. is a very real one. Social scientists are keenobservers of the 'cause and effect relation and to some extent the "culprit" has been identifledas the maximization of ones own gain in the form of self interest. Marx warned of theexploitation of the poor, the helpless and the illiterate. Unfortunately, self interest is sointertwined with human nature that individuals practice it, corporations practice it, societiespractice it, cultures practice it, and countries practice it. Marx lives on in many forms whereever self interest reaches exploitation. Underlying as' it was in the past, articulated it becameas economists gave this "culprit" a mathematical and an optimization technique. The partial

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differential for the: maXimization of the expected gain with respect to the effon inachieiring itis a fonnalecono~~tric exe~cise!, .'.; . • .

. '. . I.' .Be as it may, what can be done about it is the concern of the strategic planners for the

countries t~at)".ant to preserve values, sccial norms, and joy rather than money, exploitationand fleeting 'coirifon 'Moderated p' vgress that combines the preserVation of cultural andethical norln§'Wlth' IBMN to achieve the Vision for the year 2020 is like controlled aggressionwhich combines:motivation with opponunities to achieve a satisfactory progress for the entirenation.

Industrial society brought about Adam Smith to initiate Capitalism, and Karl Marx toprevent the. abuse of the tools of Capitalism against labor. Information society needs a groupof both intelligent and sensitive social scientists to manage the transition for the next twodecades. The questions about intelligent broadband media technologies are not "if' and"when", but·about their role; impact, and possible regulation to manage the transition in lightohhe culture:importing them.

When the impact of the IBMN is going to be projected, the effect is going to feltonpeople, corporations, societies and countries. We have delineated both the' positive and the

.negative effects. The objective is to bring home "the best" of this impending revolution ofcheap bits on fast information highways to the minds of children that make up the cultures oftomorrow.· We have discussed the impact the new technologies can have on one's personallife. The use (and misuse) of technologies, isolation, 'family structure, and corporate influenceis presented. In this section, we suggest a iirategy to limit the possible negative impact, andnot impede the desirable and positive influence upon the society.

A two-fold approach is proposed at the outset. First, the licensing of the "sourcers ofnetwork information" and the establishment of a human or a computer-based evaluation of theinformation cpntent from these information sourc,ers. We do realize that the licensing of thesourcers is a political and public process. Slow as it may be, less corruptible it is likely to be,especially if there are members who look into the cultural aspects of the information broadcastinto the network The educational and university material needs no scrutiny. The most·cuIturally sensitive and corrupted material might suffer prolonged delays and to this extent'"discourage pornography and sex talks on the network,

Most of the.. networks are bi-directionaL In a sense they encourage free exchange ofinformation, 'and this is the ideal of a totally free democratic society. With the new intelligent'information technologies, this free exchange of iriformation can be global along theinformatior('highways and can be very graphic with the multimedia. In the recent past most'computing systems have installed software to detect computer bugs and viruses. What we are,proposing'in the first. step is the installation of knowledge-based content detectors that.identify culturally injurious material by the network owners at the Central Offices, This is nodifferent than the installation of metal detectors by the airlines at the airports.

Second, the establishment of well managed widely-dispersed and substantive network of'knowledge banks around the country. In fact, this is the first step toward.s a digital library ofcongress (parliament or the Federal government) over a wide area network The knowledgemanagement system of these knowledge banks are human or computer-assisted contentevaluation' systems. They have the responsibility to. educate and to inform (like ouruniversities) and should not become profit seeking. The new information technologies areideally suited towards this architecture of knowledge systems that dispense truth and

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precision, much like doctors who prescribe medicines or pharmacists who dispense drugs. Userather than abuse will be the mode of operation; education rather than entertainment will bethe use; and fact rather than fantasy will be content; cultural norms rather than profit will bethe goal.

The detailed long term implementation of the strategy needs the wisdom of scientists andthe determination of a progressive society. If the economics of material wealth has broughtabout the two competing ideologies (capitalism and socialism) in the world, we project thateconomics of knowledge will foster two factions (the informed and the ignorant) of people, ofnations, of societies and even of cultures. Whereas an optimum blend at every level is theideal, it is not always possible to build an information skyway between two factions. So themanagement of transition for the developing countries needs an element of trust from themand concern from the developed countries; neither one;of which is broken for the decades tocome. Trust precludes blind-trust and concern precludes exploitation in this context. Beingwell informed about the ffiMN permit the developing 'countries to weigh and c('nsider whatthe developed countries have to offer in the cultural context of the particular nation. Totalacceptance or total denial of the intelligent information technologies and the ffiMN as theyexist in the West both appear inappropriate. In this paper we have provided some insight as towhere a comfortable balance exists and a possible strategy to achieve it.

VI. AUTHORS' NOTE

In this paper, we do not want to portray intelligent information technologies and ffiMN aspjghways to doom and destruction of social values. The positive impact of these technologiesoutweighs their possible misuse and undesirable by-products. However, we address and focusattention on some possible problems, which may go unnoticed by the developing countrieswhen they chose to the directly import the raw informatIon technology and multimediav.ithout considering all the personal, social, and cultural rarliification of these major trends inour global society. We do believe that a compromise is possible.

REFERENCES[1] Russo, E.G., AM. Tawfik, L.L. Sand, L.J. Shaw, PD. Taska, and RJ.Wojcik, 1991."Intelligent Network Platform in the U.S." AT&T Technical Journal (Summer), pp. 26-40.

[2J Garcia, O.N. and Y.T. Chien" Editors, 1991. "Knowledge Based Systems", Fundamentalsand Tools", IEEE Computer Society Press, Wasnington.

[3J Beaty, A, Jr. 1989. "The Evolution of Intelligent Networks", Telecommunications,(February) pp. 29-40

(4) Sable, E.G., 1992. "Intelligent Network in United States", at 1992 International ZurichSeminar on Digital Communications. Zurich (March 18).

[5] Sable, E.G., and RWKettler, 1991. "Intelligent Network Directions", AT&T TechnicalJournal (Summer) pp. 2-10.

[6] Jayant, N.S., B. Ackland, V.B. Lawrence, L.R. Rabiner, "Multimedia: TechnologyDimensions and Challenges", in this issue of the Proceedings of the First NationalInformation Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 1-3, 1995.

(7J Miller, M. J., and S. V. Ahamed. 1986. Digital Transmission Systems and Networks, vol.II, Chapter 5, Applications ofDigital Transmission. Rockville, MD: Computer Science Press

NCIT' 95~THNATIONAL CONfER£NC£ INfORMATION T£.CHNOL06Y'95

16 - 18 AUGUST 1995PULAU PINANG

CONfERENCE THEME

INFORMATION N£TWORKS - A PARADI6M SHIFT FOR SOCI£TY

CONFERENCE PAPERS

ORGANISED BY: Gabungan Kompuler Nasional Malaysia

f'UBUSHED BY : Cabungan Kompuler Nasional MalaysiaMalaysian Na/ional Computer COlifederation (MNCC)No. 46A, Jalan 55 2/6647300 Pelaling Jaya5elangor Darnl Ehsan

A.ll Rights Re.'ierved. No pan rifthi.r pJlblicatiot1 may be reproduced in allY form or any ",e.ans lVitholl'the prior permission {lIthe publisher.

N\OOL\­NI\\

t

CONTENTS

INVITED PAPERSTitles & Speakers

1. Virtual CampusProf Dr. Zahran Halim, Malaysia

2. Re-Engineering in the Work Place - The Enabling TechnologiesChaw Chun Liong, Malaysia

3. Global Jaring LinkDr Mohamad Awang Lah, Malaysia

4. Broad Band Networks - Who Need Them?Omar Charles Abdullah, Malaysia

5. Re-Architecturing Your NetworksAlanMarcus, US.A

6. Networking People and ProcessesDr Halim Shafie, Malaysia

7. Effective Network ManagementWally Ho Wing-Keung, Canada

8. Telemedic-CareDr Mohan Chellappa, Singapore

,19. Electronic Commerce Current Status and Prospects in MalaysiaGovinathan Pillai, Malaysia

10. The Next Generation of Networks CANCELLEDDavid Pennell, U.S.A

APB t1a1481

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11. Health Care from the HeartRobert Tan Sheng Hoe, Singapore

12. Getting to Switched NetworksStephen Miles, U.S.A.

13. Switching High Performance NetworksMicheal Warren, Malaysia

14. An Example Application on the NationallnfomationSuperhighway :A Language Information Centre for MalayProf Dr. Zaharin YusofJ, Malaysia

15. Technology Research Database ServiceDr MoM Shazali Othman, Malaysia

16. Trends in Enterprise NetworkingShaifubahrim Saleh, Malaysia

17. ATM NetworkingChong Pow Min, Singapore

18. ATM Virtual Networks: The Key to ATM's Success

Amiruddin Azahar, Malaysia

19. Internet SecurityMuthu Nedumaran, Singapore

20. Workgroup Computing - Tools for Building Better Business ProcessesJulian Wong, Malaysia

Iis/spliJcU

11-01-10

12-01-13

13-01-23

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16-01-05

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18-01-27

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NCIT' 95

8' TH NATIONAL CONfERENCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY '95

16 -18 AUGUST 1995PULAU PINANG

BROADBANDNETIVORKS-WHONEEDSTHEMS?

BY

OMAR CHARLES ABDULLAHOATACRAfT (M) SON BHO

KUALA LUMPUR

NCIT'95 Broadb8nd Networks - Who Needs Them?

Broadband Networks - Who Needs Them?

Omar Charles AbdullahChief Network ConsultantDa13craft Mal;ly5ia Sdn. Bhd.Wi5m3 Cyclccani.288 Jalan R.1ja but.50350 KualCi Lumpur

Tel: 03-294-91 8SFAX: 03-294-8100

Email: aomar@daiacraft-asia.com

ABSTRACT

The latest '(ashior,· in networking is broadband networks. A broadband network is one using cellrelay nr ATM (AS\lIChronous Transfer Mode) technology, nomlally at speeds from 25 Mbps to severalhundred Mbps.

The objecth"es of su..:h nehvorks arc examined. as well as their applicablilit)' to commercialapplications in p=m day net\\'orks. The technology has the advantage of being able to supporttime and jitter ser..s.;u,"e traffic, such as voice and video, and time-insensitive traffic such as data. II isalso capable of supponing variable bit rate traffic. such as LAN to LAN trame, in the same way as aframe relay seni.:e. These abilities offer the promise of using ATI..1 to int:::grate all an organisation'stramc, voice, data. \id~, onto a single network.

ATM is ciJurcnlly onl~ appiied in two areas: 3S a backbone high-sl-"X:cd LAN, whoHy within a singlesile • which interQ)I1Jl'XlS lower speed LANs such as Ethernet and Token Ring. and as a carriertransmission :ec-hrl\:'logy. used 10 carrier bulk band\\idlb between high order l:lUltiple....ors. In thelatter appli.:.. tion L.~ AThl link will typically be cafT) ing voice and other telecommunicationsservices m'er a JX)im Ie point link with iittle or no S\\ilChing.

The promise oi .:"1\1 IS that it wil! combine both of these ClIfreJl1 applications. as well as the \\idearea switching tUr:....,i0n currently being d0Ih.': by th~ carrier's exchanges and the user's \\ide an;:anet"work (which al pr~nt may be X.25, frame relay. or IP) Into a single integrated network usingAThl Uuoughoul.

One remaining qu~·:"u is 'what will users do \vith all this bandwidth?' ATM provides vcry highspeeds. and whHe IQ\"\er speeds h3ve been suggested (fClf eX<lmple IUM ht'!s sponsored a speed of25Mbps, which ha; oow been adopted) it remains a technology nlllning at LAN speeds and above. Inpresent day \\;de ~;ea networks 2Mbps is considered yery high, aad the question remains of wlwtATM speed IVA...'.:. mnJ\\idlh will be used for. The commercial demand for vidcoconferencing andmullimedia scf\·iC:..~. \\ hich do require a high band\';idth. is lik.:ly to remain limited.

What Is a Broadband Network?

The ternl bro:.tdoond network is generally used to ind!C3te a network using cell relay or ATMtechnology. This" characlerised by high speed transmission, typically at sp_eds co,nparable to LANs(25Mbps upwards,. \\1m lRa data being split into fixed size cells 48 bytes long with 5 b)1cS ofoverhead. Cells \\ni..:h are not fuJI are ncn:nheless sent at full size. The cells are switched byswitching d.:\"ices \\ [1.1:0 use PVC based (ClJleing. and there is little error checking and correclion - ifcells arc 10$t the :·!;:r\\ .."'rk user is responsible for detcctlng .lJld correcting this. The absence of acomplex pro!lX"('l1 \.::h .:rror correction ;lllows d:lI;'l 10 be :,~nl al high speeds with minimum delay. alldso bro;"dband ner".::;"';: are able to c:lrry both tim..: s.~ns.lti\"e. Ii."\ed b'llldwidth ser\'ices, such as voiceand video. \\h.:re;~ ;~i.:-.;lbk delay in transmission IlfllC \\ill C;luSC the piclllrc/~ollild 10 brc~k lip. ;lnd

·1 B NOV 1997l'/ASKRAR mm.IIlUUN

'PllK1USToU· HN /iF-GARl. MAU nlA

04- ':.

"';CIT'95 Broadband Networks - Who Needs Ifhun"!

variable bandwidth services, such as data transmission, where band\\,dth is only required wholl amessage is .sent.

Band"idth can be assigned as constant bil rate (CBR) for services such as voice, and variable bit mle(YBR) for data. A new class, available bit ralc (ABR) is now proposed to rakc advantage of anyunused network bandwidth to send traffic which is net time sensitive. SUdl as router to Touter traffic.

A key coocept in an ATM network is the quality of service (OoS): lhis defines for a panio.u'>,connection the expected transmission ratc, as wcll as tile maximum peak rare (PCR - Peak Cell )(>\('.)and the cell loss priority (CLP). Whcn a switch is congested, it is expected to discard lower priOlilycells first to avoid discarding cells from time sensitive traffic. The QoS will form pan of a sc,vii-"level agreement between the user and the network, and the tariff "ill depend heavily on tile offere<;QoS in the SLA.

Initially AT/>.! equipment only otTers PVC based scrvices, but SVC based services, multipoint servi"e"and senices ,,·ith asymmetric band"idth requirements in the two dinxtions have been added ill UNl3.0 version of tilC standards. Providing an SVC based sen;ce is more difficult, since ATM switcheswill ha\"e to deal with call set-up and clear down, resulting in changing bandwidth and QoSre-.quircmt:nts being placed on the network.

To carry nun-ATM traffic over an ATM network ATM Adaptation Layers (AALs) have been dc.oned.These "'JXCify how Qthcr traffic, such as frame rclay or El circuits, are to be carried in cells.

Control Plane

Layer Management

User Plane

Higher Layers

. Figure 1: The ATM Protocol Layers

Onc ar~ ::-. \\ hich st<lnd~lrds are lacking is in network JlIan3geJllcnL both for a single nClwork and fortraffic c:::-::~d between difTerent ATf\1ncl\\"orks.

NCIT '95

Current Broadband Networks

Broadband Networks - Who Needs Them?

At the present lime, ATM tcchnoloh')' has actually been deployed in two applieations - as a LAN~·stelll 10 interconnect worksllltions at a single site and as a backbone technology for carriers.

ATM technology is well suited to LAN appiic3lions, as it nll\S at speeds comparclblc to the fastestLAN technologies: ATM STM-l is 155Mbps, FOOl LANs ond Fost Ethercnct LANs nm at IOOMbps,.-\TM carries an additional advantage that it is Suit:lble both lor daia and CBR applications such as\"oicc and \-ideo. It is difficull to support these services on FDDI and Fast Ethernet since theirprotocols are non-dclcnninistic and no guarantee can be made of the transmission time. In a LAN~mironl1lcnt thcr~ is no need 10 connect to wide area AT~v1 sen"ices (which arc not 3\"ailable yetanyway) and QoS and SLA requiremcllts are much simpler than in a \VAN cllvironmenL

\tlIlY AIM LANs have alrcady been inst<:lIed, including some in M;llaysia. and products are e.c1sily3\ ailablc.

Telecommunications carricrs arc also implementing ATM nerworks. \\ith two objects in mind. AI thepresent time ATM is used as a transmission system. to lldapt other types of traffic to ATM and then~lrry it \.w~r the carrier's tmnk network. typicaiiy using a fibre optic medium (SONET or SDH). Thisi::c: quite a feasible applicatioll tod<l.Y, since carriers \'.i:l Iypically I!;wc large volumcs of traffic and canfully utilise ATM bl1lldwidths.

Integrated Broadband Networks

Carriers are also now experimenting with ATM as a service to be offered 10 customers. although it\\ill be sc\"eral years before this is a viable public service,· The main reason for u\is is that iea:::;ed.:i:cl.lits are predicted to be che.c1pcr than AThl service for SOI1~e til1le~ the crossover point where ATM\\;11 become cheaper than leased DS3 (45Mbps) in the USA is 1998-9. and can be eX}:k."Cted to bei99S-2000 in Malaysia, There \vill not be significant usc of ATM uP-Iii it is che<lpcr than competitive~r....iccs. and there is the re~liirement for bandwidth.

T(l re.c1]ise ;!Ii the potential of ATM, it will ha\·c to be used end to end. A user COlillCCleC to an ATMi....AN will COlweel to a remote system. goiJlg from his local ATM LAN through ATM aITC55 into a.::lITier's public ATM WAN and Ollto another ArM LAN ~H thc remote end. This can only happen\\ hen the carriers arc offering public ATM \VAN sen·icc. and the intercOIUlectioIl issu~s related toQ-,)S and service level agreements are solyed. \Ve would ideillify such a network as bcir.g linInr;::grated broadband network, and sHch networks are at least:; - 5 years frem rcaiisation.

Th~ first lJ~~rs of public broadband services Jrc likely 10 be video users. panicularly .::able TV and\'ld~o di<ll t(lnc scrvice providers, although there is considerable doubt abmlt the financial \lability of5'.Kh ser\"icc~"

High Bandwidth Network Applications

l[ b nOI entirely clear which network applic<llions will require the high bandwidths ofTered byDfCI:ldballd networks. Traditional voice will only use a small fraction of a broadband ISDN line (about~(X.)l' \"oic~ calls will fit into onc 155Mps line without conlprcssion!). so only a PIT will h,,\'e enough\oi~'c to fldly utilise <l. broadband network. Traditional d;lIa traffic is gcnerally Cl thOll5.·lIld times less;rull bro;ldb~llId c;-lpacitics.·alld even the I:ugesl data nClworks in the \Vorld call m:·ltlage \\ilh Eln'l~'; E.\/T3 links.

~'h~' appii.:';ltions louted to driyc broadb~llid Jll'tworks are' \·ideo. eSj.x·.:ially cable TV. llluillJ11edi:1. alld", ;j;:ocon[('rcllcing. bUI there arc considerable b:lrrie[s (Q the take-up (If these technologIes Ifl :\sla.

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NUf '95 Broadband Networks - Who Needs Them?

Vidcoconfcrcncing shows the most prol11ise~ despite a slow start ,\ith public vidcoconferencingservices the cost of the tcchnology makes it attractl'-c to companies right now, and as travel costs and5.11aries rise and bandwidth and equipment costs fall it will become a financially compellingapplication for large and medium sized companies. However. as video compression technologyimproves. the bandwidth required ftllls. Hud lhe inilia! lise of 2Mbps has now fallen to 384Khps or25GKbps. and call be expected to fall fun her. This is: IIlllch less th,11l tile slowest speeds bei!lgconsidered for bro(ldo~llld services.

Cable TV or "video dial-tone" (video all demand) services will certainly require huge bandwidlhs, andwill comfortably fill ATM networks, but the market demand for Lhese services is questionable. Therehave been lechnic.11 problems \\ith tl,e technology~ it usu:llly reqnires fibre optic networks to tllr.subscriber, which are yct to be deployed ill Asia. and it faces stiff competition from ,ideo cassetterental and satcllite as a medium. Until the costs c;"tn be brought down to the same levels as satelliteTV and \'ideo rental it will remain il very smail market

Multimedia applications arc an unknown quantity. Business wiI! not pay the cost for usingIllultimedla computing until busincss benefits can be r::'11ised, and tlu:rc is no sign that this \\~II

happen soon. Until it becomes beneficial to commcrcial users. a mark~t \\ill be slow 10 develop.However the potential of multimedia has nOi been exploited yet. \Vho knows whal new appiicaliollsm,~y be found for this tedtnology"?

Kuala LumpurAugust i 995

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