Mirror for Internet F-root name server deployed in Karachi
Apnic has been deploying root name servers in geographically diverse locations. It looks like its now Pakistans turn. This is the first root name server deployed in Pakistan and should bring improvements in speed and reliability to internet users in Pakistan, or at least to those using Cybernet. The utility will only be spread out to everyone if there is peering between the ISPs.

======================================



by MASROOR AFZAL PASHA

KARACHI (December 15 2005): The Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) has deployed a mirror of the Internet F-root name server, which becomes operational in Karachi from Wednesday.

This is the first "root name server" deployed in Pakistan and would bring significant improvements in speed and reliability to Internet users in Pakistan and the surrounding region.

The APNIC is one of the five regional Internet registries currently operating in the world and provides allocation and registration services that support the operation of the Internet globally. APNIC provides Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to network operators in the Asia-Pacific region.

APNIC has co-ordinated deployment with Cyber Internet Services (CyberNet) and Internet Software Consortium (ISC).

The installation of the root server in Karachi has been made possible by the Internet Service Provider Association of Pakistan (ISPAK), with financial and logistical support from APNIC as well as hosting support by the CyberNet along with transit services.

The root servers are a critical part of the Internet's domain name system (DNS), providing information about authoritative servers for the many top-level domains like "(dot com), (dot org), (dot pk), and (dot uk).

The computers need this information to interpret URLs, e-mail addresses and perform other types of Internet transactions.

APNIC Director General Paul Wilson hoped that deployment of this root name server in Pakistan would bring the total number of root DNS servers in the Asia-Pacific region to 26, 18 of which have been made possible with the APNIC's support.

Pakistan is at the forefront of a rapid revolutionary change encompassing information technology and telecommunications, he added.

Recently, "Pakistan has observed significant growth in this sector with double and even triple-digit growth on year-on-year basis," he said. A significant contributor to this endeavour, CyberNet, has maintained its momentum towards progressive technologies with the commitment to serve the Internet community.

Such feat of CyberNet is being achieved through the transit provisioning of the mentioned root name server, substantially improving the Internet experience in Pakistan, he added.

This pioneering organisation had always played its due role, in conjunction with the international groups and domestic organisations, as a proactive promoter of Internet usage, while dynamically improving the delivery of its nation-wide services, Paul said.

He also said, "The deployment of this root name server in Pakistan is a positive example of Internet community co-ordination. The installation has involved the private sector, not-for-profit organisations and government bodies working together to improve DNS stability and Internet response times for developing countries in South Asia."

ISPAK President Ansar-ul-Haq said, "This root server will improve the Internet service in the country and save browsing time.

He said in case of outage the Web sites remain operational in the country and will not affect the Web-based services.


Copyright Business Recorder, 2005

Labels: Infrastructure

- posted @ Saturday, December 17, 2005