UbuntuNet – Seattle Brief Research and Education Networks in Africa – Creating an open access environment for universities and research institutions F F Tusubira, Don Riley, Ed Fantegrossi

Objectives Identifying challenges and strategies for assuring open access in research and education networking Using the UbuntuNet Alliance (regional) and IEEAF (global) to illustrate what is possible Creating awareness of the UbuntuNet Alliance and IEEAF initiatives in Africa

Contents Part 1: Identifying Layers, Roles, Challenges, and Strategies Part 2: UbuntuNet Alliance – Plans and Progress Part 3: To be covered by Ed and Don Acknowledgements Conclusion

Part 1: Identifying Layers, Roles, Challenges, and Strategies “We know that we have it in ourselves as Africans, to change all this [the challenges we face]. We must assert our will to do so. We must say there is no obstacle big enough to stop us from bringing about an African renaissance.” –Nelson Mandela

Layers and Roles: Many dimensions, many players IEEAF, etc UbuntuNet, etc NREN National Infrastructure Teachers, Researchers, Libraries, Classrooms, Labs, Management Regional Infrastructure Campus Infrastructure Content Networks (Researchers, Libraries, Universities Management ) Global REN Infrastructure TERNET, etc

Key Challenges Creating and sustaining a common purpose Ensuring an open access strategy Sustaining operations Working with difficult policy and regulatory environments Challenge of egos: “I” vs “We”

Strategy 1: Creating and sustaining a common purpose Requires a shared vision: what drives us? Requires creating ownership regardless of level of expertise or development: –Listen to all: experts tend to be prisoners in boxes of knowledge –Mutual support: the baby will one day be stronger than the father or mother and roles will reverse Requires tangible progress, one step at a time: Do not attempt to swallow the elephant (or, according to Ed, “boil the ocean”)

Strategy 2: Ensuring Open Access Concept: A Quilt is made up of many pieces of different colours but consistent geometry Organisational level: Maintain an open door - all are welcome as part of the original family Address affordability: cost is a barrier to open access Ensure common architecture: the network will be as fast as the slowest link There should be no national borders – these are network barriers

Strategy 3: Sustaining Operations At the regional level, there will be an overlay network: network operations; bandwidth human resource; services - these cost. Universities, countries and regions have a dearth of technical expertise. Universities are churning out human resource but, not knowing the needs, training is not appropriate: Enter Tom; UW Team; African experts; and others The old adage, “Content is king” applies: sustainable operations call for content that pays its way. How?

Strategy 4: Working with Difficult Policy and Regulatory Environments Learn to fall upwards against gravity: –Ability to own international gateways –Ability to operate “own” national and regional networks –Economic blocks (SADC, EAC, COMESA) where national borders block regional connectivity –Absence of regional regulation –Absence of cyber laws –Taxation –Insecurity of political regimes

Strategy 5: Address Challenge of egos - “I” vs “We” Ego – a very human thing: –Individuals –Countries –Organisations (includes development partners) … Each vying for the title of “saviour of Africa”… even if it means stepping on all… It takes a conscious effort to recognise that all have a critical role.. … a spear has a pointed end, a mass of supporting metal, a shaft, and a thrower.

Part 2: UbuntuNet – Context, Plans and Progress Ubuntu or Obuntu: - “I am because we are” …Ubuntu is not just a philosophy – it is a way of life that defines the relationship of the individual to the community and vice versa … … It recognises that individual good arises out of the community good and vice versa… …It is about the responsibility of caring for the general welfare, supporting others. Obuntu means “the essence of humanity”; Omuntu means “a human being” Hence UbuntuNet Alliance

What is UbuntuNet Alliance? …A registered organisation of NRENs (Inc. 2006) …Sees an African continent holding its own as a member of the global research and education community… … Through enabling the connectivity of national and regional RENs … … With sufficient and affordable connection to each other and the GII..preferably via fibre... Current members: TENET, KENET, MoRENet, MAREN, RwEdNet, SUIN In process: TERNET, ZAMREN, RENU, …

Current Status (Eastern, Southern Africa) Formal REN, advanced network and sufficient bandwidth: NONE Formal REN and underlying infrastructure: Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, other? Formal REN but no underlying infrastructure: Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, DRC, other? REN in formation: Uganda, other?

Plans and Progress To-date (1) Plans: –Refine strategic plan and develop a master plan –Establish services and revenue-streams –Local registration and home base in Nairobi –Appoint full-time staff (CEO, Technical, Admin, etc) Completed tasks –Obtained IPv4 and IPv6 address space (AfriNIC) –Obtained a CISCO 7606 router donated by CISCO, installed in DANTE’s cage in Telecity, London –REN transit connection to Géant

Plans and Progress To-date (2) To be set up: –1 Gb/s connection to LINX ( –Settlement-free peering with all comers; includes bilateral agreements between RENs –Internet transit –Connections to other networks, like Internet2 –Also now working with IEEAF Working with the Bandwidth Consortium –Plans to merge activities and set up NOC –Ongoing discussions with IDRC and PHEA –Basis for a major connectivity proposal

Plans and Progress To-date (3): Clusters NA South Cluster Southern TZ LS BW ZM MW MZ SA SW East Cluster UG Northern TZ KE SD ET EG RW Ack: Duncan Martin, UbuntuNet

Plans and Progress (4): VSAT Virtual RENs UbuntuNet router UbuntuNet routers at VSAT teleports in Europe VSAT- dependent campuses all over Africa Backhauls to London Ack: Duncan Martin, UbuntuNet

Plans and Progress (5): Connection to Géant Géant General Internet UbuntuNet router Ack: Duncan Martin, UbuntuNet

Appreciation to our supporters to-date Sida Cisco KTH (Sweden) DANTE Open Society Institute Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa TENET's FRENIA (Fostering Research and Education Networking in Africa) Program, funded by The Andrew W Mellon Foundation. IDRC and Connectivity Africa USAID IEEAF GEO University of Washington Partnership for Higher Education in Africa

Global Quilt Initiative for Africa "Non Nobis Solo” - Not by ourselves alone

Conclusion “Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi ASANTE SANA!