75% of passenger transport is via public transport and of that 93% by bus and 7% by train. Roughly 5500 SLCTB and 18000 private buses. The fare is regulated by National Transport Commission (NTC). They also have timetables which are n0t implemented.

Shortest distance (~2KM) LKR 6:00.

Longest distance 260 KM – LKR 655.00.

Most of the BOP uses bus transport. 36% of the BOP use mobile and fixed phones.

SLTB buses use both ticket books and manual ticket machines to issue tickets to commuters

Private buses primarily use digital ticketing machines that prints out tickets. Can store data, process memory. Can even tell you how may people have to get off at the next bus stop.  The one in use now is also lighter in weight.

These are mainly used in the Western Province and on a few inter provincial buses.  Manual ticket machines are used in other areas.

Issues with the current ticketting system:

Money lost in Transit. Bus conductors and Drivers take the money, or tickets are not issued, or passengers do not buy the tickets. CTB estimates a 15% loss of revenue and private bus owners 25%.

Chanuka: How is the estimates done?

RS: through Load share.

HdS: Bus owners want to reduce leakage.  They wold like to issue a e-bus tickets. So the solution is either a card system or a mobile. So from the suply side there is a need but what about the demand side?

A  simple survey was done at the Fort railway station. Not a Sample survey but to get an idea. 2/3: 1/3 male: female. There maybe selection bias as it is a starting point.

What is the real cost of a ticket? Do the passengers receive the balance after getting a ticket? only 5% said that they always get there balance. Most people carry exact change. And only 50% of the people receive a bus ticket. Ticket checkers are used both in public and private sector. Some private companies have their own people to check for tickets.

So because of these issues, there is a need.

Possible benefits of e-tickets:

For Bus operators

• reduce leakage
• Offer loyalty plans etc.

For Commuters

• Cost only actual fare
• Can better schedule travel; save on transport expenditure

State [local government]

• Tax collection
• Target subsidies

What are the options?

Contactless smart cards: Oyster, ez link. Delhi is running a pilot, minimum reload INR 25.

Mobile phones: either through SMS or Near field Communication (NFC) merging mobile phones with a contactless smart card (Innovation).

NFC mobile phones: Nokia introduced the first in 2005 (3220). Break through innovation is instead of a NFC  phone, what about an NFC SIM. China Telecom has come p with a NON NFC standard RF SIM.  Nokia 6216: First NFC standard SIM compatible. Operator can load application.

Japan is leader with NTT DoComo Osaifu-Keitai e-wallet phones. Spain, Netherlands, France and Germany, mobile bus and rail ticket system are being piloted.  China has started.  UK to start by 2015 and fully switch to NFC by 2020.

Four widely used packages – two from Dialog GSM and two from Mobitel will be tested. We have checked with AirTel but were informed their inability to meet the demand in short notice, with a waiting list of 600 prospective subscribers.

If interested, please mail chanuka@lirneasia.net for more details.

Is broadband quality a subject of interest only to urban top-of-the ladder users?

Not necessarily. With the latest developments in telecom services broadband access is increasingly becoming a reality to rural populations as well, even in developing countries. The penetration levels might not be the same but should that mean quality should be compromised for rural users?

Broadband quality is critical for telecenters where a link is usually shared.

LIRNEasia introduces its AT-Tester software application for any users to find out how far the operators keep their promises for quality broadband. This is developed using open source software by a group of researchers from IIT Madras and available freely for download from www.broadbandasia.info.

The tests can be conducted by any user, with least effort and within few minutes. No more than basic computer literacy is required. All you need is a PC running Windows XP connected to Internet. (Other operating systems will be supported in near future).

AT-Tester is different from popular broadband performance testing tools (speedtest.net, for example) because:

• It is more accurate: AT-Tester measures the throughput rates while actually downloading/uploading files. It does not calculate them using empirical formulae and ping data.

• It is more comprehensive: Unlike most other tools, AT-Tester does not confine testing to an end server. It tests the throughput to three servers, namely (a) the local ISP; (b) another server within the same country and (c) a server in US. This helps pinpointing the bandwidth bottlenecks.

• It tests more parameters namely,

i. Download speed (kbps/Mbps)
ii. Upload Speed (kbps/Mbps)
iii. RTT (milli seconds)
iv. Jitter (milli seconds)
v. Packet-Loss (%)
vi. Availability (%)

The software is developed in such a manner that minimal configuration is required by the user.

The software is already customized to be used by the telecenter operators in Sri Lanka. They can report the performance results district-wise. (For example, a telecenter operator in Panamura can report under Ratnapura, not Colombo) Our objective is to develop a more descriptive picture of broadband performance instead of depending solely on testing in major cities.

Telecenter operator in any country can use this but needs a prior customization. (We will ask you some fundamental information like your ISP, promised speeds of the package and location) Unlike incase of speedtest.net we need this information as we go deeper in our testing. It can be done with least hassle for any country on request.

For more information Please write to: chanuka [at] gmail [dot] com

LIRNEasia, has been researching on Broadband performance quality issues in Asia. One objective of our work is to create ‘EMPOWERED USERS’ armed with broadband performance information.

Our first milestone was to develop ‘Ashoka-Tissa’ methodology of Broadband testing. This was released at a seminar jointly organized with Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka on March 18, 2008.

Next move was to automate the test process. LIRNEasia has developed an Open Source based tester (named AT-Tester) with the help of a team from ITT-Madras. After few months of beta-testing now it is available on the net (including the source).

LIRNEasia plans to launch it in Sri Lanka on at a workshop jointly organized by Sarvodaya.

ATTENDENCE FREE (with prior registration)

Date and Time: November 25, 2008, 8.30 am – 11.30 noon

Venue: Sarvodaya headquarters, Rawathawatte, Moratuwa

Media: Sinhala/Tamil with simple English. Interactions can be in any of the three

The areas to be covered are:

• Introduction to broadband
• Broadband Quality of Service and why it matters
• Test methodologies and our approach
• Introduction of the AT-Tester

The workshop is primarily for Sarvodaya telecenter operators but few seats are available for the following categories on the first-come-first-served basis.

• Telecenter operators with more than 1 year of experience
• Blogger having an active blog for minimum 3 months (Preference: Local language bloggers)

(Overnight stay facilities are provided by Sarvodaya for the previous night for out-station participants)

Please contact Chanuka Wattegama (chanuka[ at ]hotmail.com) for registration/more details with a contact number. (Deadline Nov 21, 2008)

Chanuka was the lead researcher on a LIRNEasia project to Benchmark National Telecom Regulatory Authority websites of the Asia-Pacific Region, and recently took up a post at Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme in Colombo.

]]> http://lirneasia.net/2005/10/lirneasia-researcher-at-international-workshop-on-building-an-information-society-road-to-tunis-dhaka/feed/ 0 http://lirneasia.net/2005/01/colloquium-jan-7-2005-disaster-management/ http://lirneasia.net/2005/01/colloquium-jan-7-2005-disaster-management/#comments Fri, 07 Jan 2005 12:05:20 +0000 Divakar Goswami http://www.lirneasia.net/?p=263 Rohan: Vanguard Foundation was recently created which has a center for disaster management. The work I have done at TRC on disaster management will be leveraged in the current context, and we will prepare a document. Pete Anderson is disaster communication expert who will be brought in to design a concept paper to set up parameters of a disaster management system. We are moving very fast on this.

Sequence: Disaster happens, analysed, and transmitted in a secure communication mechanism to the media. Once the warning message is transmitted, the disaster warning process is over. As far as Vanguard and LIRNE is concerned this is a ICT and telecom problem. Disaster education will be undertaken by vanguard at a later point in time.

Since we are not govt, for credibility we need to have wide-based participation as possible. Once Pete comes he, Ayesha, Malathy and I will sit and write the document. A powerpoint presentation will be presented at Transasia for 70 people. I have obtaqined participation of Asian Disaster Preparedeness Cnetre in Bangkok. There were 143 Sri Lankans who have gotten disaster prepapredness training at the above Center and a selection of them will be invited. Armed forces participants, public with specialised knowledge in the area will also be invited.

Feb 4-5th draft of paper will be finalised and press conference will be held. There will be videoconferencing with experts in Thailand, USA and elsewhere. The document will be finalized based on feedback and will be submitted to the Sri Lankan govt.

Divakar makes a strong argument that village local warning system needs to be involved. But I think it needs to be part of another initiative – possibly through the private sector.

Jinendra: But in the document [final report], the need for a local emergency system should be mentioned.

Chanuka: Source(disaster)—Media–report to–people. Do we have the sources? Tsunami warning system.

Rohan: If Asian tsunami warning system is in place that’s where the bulletin will come from. Cyclones will come from Met dept If you have multiple sources what are the potential of abuse? It needs to come from national disaster center. Supposing no tsunami warning system. But we have disaster management center in SL–manned by professionals. They get the first tsunami bulletin, they get 2nd bulletin about earthquake and possible tsunami. They could have then triggered a warning to SL

Chanuka: I will prepare excel sheet–who are responsible organization for particular disasters. And the document will be distributed to media and there can be accountability.

Sabina: If you have a cross-checking system to authenticate the information. You then have reliable info.

Rohan: Maybe operation of disaster warning need to be outsourced to private sector. Probably a telecom company.

Chanuka: Good idea, will such a thing happen?

Harsha: 911 is outsourced in New York City

Chanuka: Will profit make private sector efficient as disaster managers? [see Chanuka's comment below]

Rohan: Will a government organization work?

Sabina: Can you get tourism industry involved cause they have a motive to have efficient disaster warning

Rohan: Yes; without credible early warning no tourists will come to SL

Jinendra: It will take 2 years to get back on track for tourism. Maybe also get insurance companies involved. They have a stake too for a disaster management.

Rohan: Yes, good idea.

break for cake and ice cream

Rohan: Govt makes policy–civil society reacts. Here we are trying to give proposals. Will there be resistance to accept the plan?

Chanuka: they will probably accept it and run it as their own.

Rohan: We are interested in the policy process. LIRNE is about pushing for certain kind of policy to govt. – publicy pushing solutions for the governement.

looking at the ‘blame game’ as we have seen in SL over the last two weeks – the big problem in disaster management is that its cross-cutting in nature -it requires the involvement of many ministries, departments, etc.

Arun Mehtah has sent info on what we’re (LIRNEasia) doing to the chairman of TRAI (india) recommending that they work with us, rather than re-inventing wheel. Also Pete Anderson will be visiting India with Canadian PM. We may be able to link up with the Indians.

We need a system NOT just for tsunami’s. System must be ready to handle any (at best) form of disaster.

Harsha : (reads listing of natural disasters from ?website..?) …includes AIDS.

Rohan : like drought, AIDS is a creeping disaster. Time is not an issue.

Chanuka : However education is necessary

Sabina: what about epidemics like SARS

Jinendra: recent viral flu in Embilipitya

Rohan: the proposed organisation must be limited in its size, and therefore its scope (eg, it can’t be involved in the actual setting off sirens, etc) otherwise it just becomes another big bureaucracy.

Divakar: I’m concerend that the very ‘last mile’ will not get the message. Can’t issue one central warning in Colombo and then expect it to get to the last mile on its own, need devolvement as much as possible. more channels for communicaiton that are available makes the system more robust.

Sabina: how about a system that alerts all medical services/police services through island.

Jinendra: not all people have TV/electricity/telephone/radio

Divakar: can’t depend on someone by chance hearing a radio braodcast to pick up on warning and take action/spread word.

Rohan: can’t create more bureaucracy!!!!

Jinendra: we need to address the problem of how to communicate with those people who don’t have access to a phone/tv/radio, etc.

Rohan: East has been and is the worst hit part of the country in most disasters- cyclones, etc. They have to be given sirens, claxons, etc. But then, the rest of the coast (West, South) will want the same. This is costly – maintainance, etc. like payphone companies, structure is needed (not governemt) to mainitain it.

Harsha: concern of vandalism of sirens / towers, etc. Hopefully after the disaster that people have faced, people won’t.

Rohan: A robust, resilient solution, that is imperfect is better than trying to go for 100% perfect system .

Jinendra: need alternatives that don’t rely on solar/electricity, etc; how about manual operation (of local warning center)? as in railway crossings

Rohan: people become complacent- they think they are safe just because it is there. What if the siren/rail crossing signal is not working?

Sabina: Suggestion: Centralised organization (govt) sends out signal to next level organisations (Divisional Secetariats); they send it out to the next level (Pradeshya Sabhas), etc…

Rohan: More government?

Chanuka: 24 hour systems don’t work are difficult to maintain in this country – like Sathosa! [see Chanuka's comment below]

Divakar: what about connecting the warning system to VGKs (Vishwa Gnana Kendra’s – a telecenter network to be established throughout the island under the eSri Lanka Initiative)?

Rohan: There are no VGKs located on the coasts.

Sabina: How about manning them (warning centers ) on shift basis?

Rohan: Won’t work

Jinendra: the number of offices that one Divisional Secretariate will have to communicate to is far too many; communication time will be very long.

Rohan: Any thoughts/ideas on how can we extend this to other countries in the region?

below is a table that tabulates all the comments we have received so far on LIRNEasia’s provisional mission statement. You have another opportunity to review the statement and see if you would like to propose any further changes. Shortly, the mission statement will be finalised and sent to the board of directors to be approved and framed on the wall. So the window of opportunity for intervention is limited. ACT SOON