Creating the global research village AfricaConnect – No Longer Just a Dream! TERENA Networking Conference Prague, 17 May 2011 Cathrin Stöver, DANTE

Creating the global research village A Dream becomes Reality The Project is a Reality at Last! Contract Signature took place on May 11, 2011, during the Opening Ceremony of the IST-Africa Conference in Gaborone Which means that the contract has now officially started Press release published on Wednesday, 11 May alongside the signature ceremony The 20% African contribution for the first 12 months of AfricaConnect has been received

Creating the global research village AfricaConnect Website Live

Creating the global research village AfricaConnect Intranet Live

Creating the global research village AfricaConnect Partners Ubuntunet Alliance And all Ubuntunet Alliance member NRENs WACREN and AAU DFN, GARR, FCCN, HEANET, JANET and SURFnet as EU partners DANTE as the Coordinating Partner The European Commission and the African Union Commission Also not to forget the many organisations willing to work with us in the future!

Creating the global research village Ubuntunet Alliance Member NRENs DRC Ethiopia Kenya Malawi Mozambique Namibia Rwanda Somalia South Africa (cannot benefit in AfricaConnect) Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zambia

Creating the global research village AfricaConnect Project Euro 14.75M over 4 years, funded at 80:20 Based on the experienced gathered in other world regions through the ALICE, EumedConnect, CAREN and TEIN projects Adapted to African context through close collaboration with the Ubuntunet Alliance and the African NREN community Geographic scope focuses on the members of the Ubuntunet Alliance, but there is a clear commitment to close collaboration with West and Central Africa through WACREN and AAU Manpower in the project mainly provided by the Ubuntunet Alliance

Creating the global research village AfricaConnect – Specific Objectives Creation of the AfricaConnect R&E infrastructure and its direct interconnection to GÉANT The establishment of a network management and operations unit in sub- Saharan Africa. Construct a sustainable financial model to support the regional network both during the AfricaConnect phase and, more importantly, after the EC-funded developmental phase. Reinforce the national organisational models for the connected NRENs as well as the regional network(s). This will focus on developing technical, operational, and managerial capacity as well as policy aspects of these organisations.

Creating the global research village AfricaConnect – Specific Objectives Work with the Association of African Universities Research and Education Networking Unit through capacity building, to stimulate the establishment and growth of NRENs in countries where they do not exist, with specific focus on West and Central Africa where the newly formed NRENs will be the members of the proposed regional research and education network, WACREN. This will enable WACREN to participate in future regional networking projects.

Creating the global research village AfricaConnect - Structure AfricaConnect is split into Phase A and B Phase A: Planning and Procurement phase: Procurement of the network connectivity from telecom providers; Procurement of the network equipment from equipment suppliers Design of a cost-effective technical solution for the network based on market availability; Development of a sustainability plan for the regional network and its connected NRENs Dissemination Activities across Africa and Europe

Creating the global research village AfricaConnect - Structure Phase B: Operational Phase: Network management and operations to provide stable connectivity services; Support to collaborative user communities utilizing the infrastructure within the region and towards Europe Promotion of the use of the network to the end-users (students, researchers, doctors) and promotion of the network to the international stakeholder community Support the uptake of the use of ICT applications by the research and education community. Training and support activities including capacity building for the consolidation of the NRENs and training local staff in the effective engineering, management and operation of the network. Increasing political dialogue to raise the political and financial support to the connectivity issues. Dissemination

Creating the global research village

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