Need
Ubuntu users in Nepal lack high-speed internet. As such they have to download the updates using a ridiculously slow internet speed from the nearest repository (http://np.archive.ubuntu.com). Hence, it'd be really nice if some ISP could maintain a mirror hosting all the necessary components of Ubuntu. This will have the following benefits:
- Boost download throughput for Ubuntu users in Nepal downloading the updates.
- The Ubuntu market in Nepal will increase added to that the Opensource market in general.
- Reduction in reliance on proprietary software as there'll be loads of software available through the repositories.
- Any more?
What could be mirrored?
Ubuntu users in Nepal want the following repositories mirrored:
- $release: Don’t touch it, I like consistency, even with my bugs.
- $release-security: I’ll accept patches to existing versions (and very rare version upgrades if absolutely necessary) in the process of keeping my system secure.
- $release-updates: Okay, some bugs are worth fixing, and I trust you this much (holds up two fingers like Maxwell Smart).
- $release-backports: I have something akin to technology ADHD, needing the latest of everything I can possibly get, but I can’t handle running the development branch.
$release being the release name such as "dapper", "gutsy" etc.. Each repository mirror has the following components:
- Main
- Universe
- Multiverse
- Restricted
Possible solutions for mirroring
The mirroring of the packages can be achieved using apt-mirror.
- rsync
Disk space needed
As an estimate, space need for mirroring i386 for main,restricted, multiverese, universe needs around 35gb. Note that i386 packages only serve for Intel 32-bit and AMD 32-bit architectures and more space will be needed for getting packages of other archs hosted.
Current scenario
As of 2008-04-15, according to surmandal 
,wlink ISP has shown interest in hosting the package mirror.
Surmandal says that he is working on it. Could Surmandal please give us an update on how it's going? 
Any trouble whatsoever he faces etc..
AnkurSharma, JwalantaShrestha are two folks that Surmandal has told us he'd talk on how to get Apt mirror up and running. The Apt mirror, the sooner it's up, the better because it'll boost the users speed a lot (by how much? has anyone done testing. if so, please put it here).