Comments on: Blogging practicalities

By: Josef Garvi

Josef Garvi — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:02:52 +0000

In November 2007, the fibre cable had not reached Niamey yet but was on its way. It will take some time before it reaches all the way to Zinder, probably several years (just like the Dogonay internet service or the Telecel GPRS system that are stalled here). But it will gradually be extended eastwards. When it does, it sure will be welcome. Right now, Sonitel uses a copper wire between Zinder and Niamey, if I have understood things correctly.

By: Esther Garvi

Esther Garvi — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:29:51 +0000

Well, one thing is for certain and that is that the Internet situation is on the move towards improvement! Right now, a good line is too expensive for ordinary people, but I hear there is talk about improvements! Will let you know the day any changes happens in my home!

By: jerome

jerome — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:01:41 +0000

Nice of you to have followed up on my query.
You wrote: “The connection at the Marhaba is a land line, but a decent one.”

I assume the customers of the cyber café are already enjoying the digitalization of the SONITEL network touted in this “AZoM” article of November 2006 under the headline and web address below.
“Siemens to Supply Fast Fiber-Optic Network to Niger’s Sonitel”
http://www.azom.com/news.asp?newsID=7211

Early last year in Tahoua, I noticed a trench being dug and covered again along the main thoroughfare. I was told it was to lay the fiber optics cable connecting Tahoua to the high-speed fiber optic network running from Niamey to Diffa and further beyond the Niger/Nigeria border.

Your great shots of Zinder remind me of Tahoua. Keep it up.

By: Esther Garvi

Esther Garvi — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:12:43 +0000

@Jerome: The connection at the Marhaba is a land line, but a decent one. Not all days are perfect though, but that’s just the way Niger is…

By: Hanna Gronberg

Hanna Gronberg — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:15:27 +0000

ok, ok, good answer…

By: jerome

jerome — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:28:56 +0000

You wrote: “Good question! I’ll get back to you about the satellite vs. land line situation.”

Why did I raise the issue?
Back a year ago I was working with a Japanese outfit in Tahoua. A cybercafe close by our office relied on a dedicated satellite connection. We queried the manager about them making their satellite connection available to us. The technology relies on positioning on the roof of your outfit a relay beamed at their satellite antena.

Soon we had our connection. The estimate we signed to included a five-users-names/connection for a monthly fee of ninety thousand CFA. That’s about what we paid for our connection-impaired Niger Telecom land line. Sorry, I can’t remember the initial investement for the instalation of the antena relay. And although there was a noticeable connection speed loss due to the satellite dish/relay setting, the progress over the land line made it worthwhile, still.

By: jerome

jerome — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:56:06 +0000

Why did I raise the issue?
Back a year ago I was working with a Jap

By: Esther Garvi

Esther Garvi — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:33:45 +0000

@Jerome: Good question! I’ll get back to you about the satellite verses land line situation.
I saw your comment about the horses over at Ishtar News. Although I like to think that Arwen is all hugs and kisses because she loves me so much, they do have a huge salt appetite in this warm country. And for some reason, despite the fact that they have their own proper salt, they seem to prefer the one produced by us humans!

By: Esther Garvi

Esther Garvi — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:29:57 +0000

When I become a millionaire Hanna, I’ll sponsor your visit to Niger! In the mean time enjoy the free advertisement, for you never know if this is the moment when your career as a professional photographer gets its real boost! And should you get all famous and no longer have time for the rest of us mortals, I’ll sit down in front of my computer some lonely night and reminiscent about how what a nice time we had in Copenhagen that day and how this little image managed to trigger such an amazing chain of happy events for you! Although personally, I’m opting for the first scenario, where you speed down here and get to share all the wonders & beauty of the least developed country in the world!

By: Hanna Gronberg

Hanna Gronberg — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:58:23 +0000

Hey! I know that black-and-white photo on your computer screen… I took that!! The question is, how many million dollars are you willing to pay me for putting it on your blog…?