US embassy cable - 04ABUJA452

UNCLAS ABUJA 000452 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/PD DAVID FOLEY AND IIP/T/EM SANDRA BRUCKNER 
LAGOS FOR PAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ACOA, OIIP, KPAO, NI 
SUBJECT:  NIGERIA REQUESTS DVC EQUIPMENT 
 
REFTEL:  STATE 43367 
 
1.  Summary.  The U.S. mission in Nigeria is anxious to 
acquire DVC technology, and requests two Polycom VSX-7000 
systems for Abuja and Lagos Information Resource Centers. 
Both sites have established Internet connectivity through 
local Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who can supply 128 
kilobytes as needed.  End Summary. 
 
DVCs and Nigeria 
---------------- 
 
2.  The Mission would like to implement DVC technology in 
both Lagos and Abuja for PD programming, and eventually for 
other Mission activities - including joint country team 
meetings, within-Africa programming on issues such as 
HIV/AIDS, etc..  We propose using our two Information 
Resource Centers (IRCs) in Abuja and Lagos as the focal 
points for launching DVC technology.  In both locations, we 
have established Internet capability that is not dependent 
on DOS systems but through local ISPs.  Both companies have 
indicated their willingness and capability to provide 128 
kilobytes (download of signal as well as uplink) at the two 
locations.  We have discussed within the Mission how best to 
fund DVC equipment; initially, however, only PAS resources 
will be available to pay for Internet costs.  Given that 
limitation, we cannot afford 128 kilobytes on a daily basis, 
but will work with each ISP to provide 128 kilobytes on an 
as-needed basis for DVCs.  We anticipate that other sections 
of the Mission will come to appreciate the utility of DVCs, 
we will bill other sections/agencies accordingly, and 
eventually move to a more unified system of funding for 
DVCs.  However, we must be clear that the U.S. Mission is 
not currently in a position to fully utilize DVCs with such 
regularity as to require 128 kilobytes on a daily basis and 
there is no mechanism within ICASS (or one that is likely to 
be implemented in the near future) to take immediate 
advantage of the technology. 
 
3.  Mission Nigeria appreciates AF/PD's willingness to 
jumpstart DVC acquisition by posts, and hopes that our 
request will be favorably reviewed. 
 
ROBERTS