Other Factors Influencing the Actualization of NREN and A Business Case for Its Construction in Ghana

Abstract

This paper critically examines the dynamic influences and issues of developing National Research and Education Network (NREN) in Ghana. From a wider and deeper perspective, this piece is a furtherance of a study by the same authors published earlier. To accomplish this objective, the paper methodologically perused documents and reports of related subject in order to evaluate available information analytically. Qualitative research approach, in the form of interviewing stakeholders, was resorted to each time information from the documents became inadequate. Findings from this study revealed that establishing NERN is practically possible, especially the possibility of funding it from Member fees and an equally higher potential of accelerating production, dissemination and utilization of information resources in the country for the enhancement of teaching, learning and research works.

It was also revealed that the creation of NERN throughout the country would check information asymmetry between rural folks and urban dwellers, especially when second cycle institutions become hooked onto it. Ultimately, the findings have far-reaching implication on policy formulation to regulating the content creation, sharing and utilization.

Keywords: VPN, Monopoly, Oligopoly, KENET, Scale, Router, Switch, POPs