crunch@well.UUCP (John Draper) (12/23/88)
This is the first (of perhaps many) reports out of the Soviet Union on the state of the current computer industry, and some current plans and happenings behind the iron curtain. I want to point out, that this report has awful English and sentence structure and is posted "as is", so it might be hard to understand, so no flames please. This was composed by Valerie Masters, a Soviet TV Journalist, currently involved in the organizational aspects of the ICC (International Computer Club), SFMT (San Francisco/Moscow teleport service), and addresses the people who read UseNet, based an the many questions I passed over to Moscow in the past week from requests of Net users. They don't have the time, or the resources, to answer everyones questions individually, but addresses the UseNet community as a whole. A number of Soviet computer users are also preparing other reports that will further describe the situation in the USSR. The biggest problem is the time it takes to translate this information into English. From Moscow: ------------------------------------------------------------------- I want to explain you some details regarding some of the questions from your NETrespondents. You can pass it to this people for getting know more about Soviet's communication solutions. So... We have in the Soviet Union something about 10 millions of computers. But half of this old and not so good mashines. In Moscow we have about 1 million (it's not exactly). Half of this in a private hands. We have some government enterprises making computers and a lot of new joint ventures which settings up kits and produce software. But I need to say that process computerizing of society now is going more and more quickly that 3 years before, for example. A very bad situation with the modems. SU don't produce any modems for the current moment ( just for the special order). All of the modems is foreign made. In the country we have if I can use to say so 5 Global Networks. Four of it under full government control and have been use by Ministry of Transport Communications, Aeroflot, Ministry of Defence and Academy of Science (ACADEMNET) the last one it's NCADE ( National Center for Automated Data Exchange). The real interest has just two of last one. They has been joints under umbrella of IAS (Institute for Automated Systems). The Institute for Automated Systems was set up in 1982 for comprehensive research in the field of advanced computerbased systems and their experimental development. The IAS is engaged in the development of new methods, procedures, algorithms and regulations in simulation, information service and evaluation of systems' efficiency, as well as in the design of software for computers and development and experimental computer-based systems. Also IAS a consultation and coordination Center for all soviet users of the automated systems. The research laboratories of the Institute are stuffed with system analysts, system engineers, mathematicians, programmers, computer specialists, and other scientists and highly skilled engineers. The technical facilities of the IAS include a computer complex with Soviet made and foreign microcomputers, personal computers, up-to-date data input/ output devices (alfa-numeric and graphics display units, plotters, printers) and telecommunication equipment (modems, multiplexers, concentrators, switches). The institute's laboratories conduct extensive research and experimental work in the following fields: -the development and introduction of packet switching facilities in automated systems for data exchange with computer networks and data banks in other countries; -the setting up a local network of terminal, network and functional stations based on microprocessors systems; -the setting up and putting into operation of an AcademNet computer network for the USSR Academy of Sciences and Academies of Sciences of Union Republics ; -the development of automated systems for users training; -the provision of software for workstations, electronic mail and computer teleconferences; -the development of algorithms and programs of statistical data banks and expert systems for analyzing the efficiency of automated information exchange systems. The NCADE computation complex makes it possible to effect automated data exchange between computers in different cities of the Soviet Union and other countries in the on-line interactive mode including packet switching which ensures high efficiency and reliability of data communication. The NCADE has access to the following foreign computer networks: TRANSPAC, IPSS, SOURCE, DATEX-P, EEIS, SHARP-APL, SCANNET, TELENET, SF/M TELEPORT, etc. It promotes communications with foreign data banks on science. commerce, politics, ecology, agriculture, provides nessacery information to research institutes, demonstrates the capabilities of new information technology, and trains users to work in the on-line interactive e. Users in other countries can have access to Soviet computational resources through the USSR NCADE. At 1988 in IAS was estabed new structure - cooperative INFOTEL. This cooperative agreed jointly with San Francisco/ Moscow Teleport start to create new system host which will be called TELEBUS (Telecommunications Businesses) and will serve for hard currency and for roubles about 5 hundred users on the first step. The San Francisco/ Moscow Teleport was connected to NCADE in 1985. Now it is rather large network (first direct Soviet-American computer network) which have as a users a lot of major Soviet organizations like Cultural Foundation of the USSR, Space Research Institute, State Committee for Computer systems, Mir Publishers, Novosti Press Agency, VINITI, Glavcosmos, Institute for USA and CANADA, Ministry of Health, Academy of Sciences, INION, etc. Now TELEBUS Project going to be as a special project of ICC. ICC will financing and will provide all kinds of support for set it up. For current moment IAS (NCADE) and INFOTEL is already a members of ICC. ----------------------------------------------------------------- As more information comes from the results of everyones questions, I will post them ONLY after I have consolidated them, and not very often. John D Programmers Network ....uunet!acad!well!crunch