1. 1 Infrastructure Developments Duncan Martin Director (non-exec): UbuntuNet Alliance Director and CEO: TENET, South Africa Development Partners’ Forum 10 November 2008 Lilongwe

2. 2 Infrastructure developments in general

3. 3 Backbone network development in Sub-Saharan Africa Hamilton, Paul. 2007. Analysis of the Extent of Development of Transmission Backbone Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa. Study commissioned by World Bank. Mobile operators (mostly microwave) Fixed line operators

4. 4 Some countries are developing “National” Backbones Government-led projects Capacity intended to be available to all operators Often public-private partnership NREN is often part of the motivation May compete with existing operator’s network –Especially in metropolitan areas DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

5. 5 Some countries have liberalized telecommunications Several licensed operators –Operators all tend to deploy backbones in the same areas (“concentration”) –Each backbone typically used only by its owner –Little wholesaling of backbone capacity Benefits –Prices tend to fall –Cross-border connections stimulated

6. 6 Concentration KenyaMaliNigeriaUganda Legend %age of population living within range of: incumbent’s backbone more than one operators’ backbone Chart from Hamilton, Paul. 2007, cited earlier.

7. 7 Legend Submarine cable initiatives SAT-3 (WASC-SAFE) 2003. Operator Club SEACOM (E. Africa to London) 2009. Investors. Open access. TEAMS (Mombasa to Fujairah) 2009. Kenyan Govt. EASSy (E. Africa to Port Sudan) 2010. Operator consortium WACS (Cape Town to London) 2010. Operator consortium MaIN OnE (W. Africa to Portugal) 2010. Investors. Open access Phase 2: Luanda, Cape Town Cable Map: Thanks to Steve Song. http://www.manypossibilities.net

8. 8 VSAT issues

9. 9 … BUT VSAT connectivity is still the only option for the majority of campuses UbuntuNet focuses on securing optical fibre connectivity….

10. 10 UbuntuNet’s “Thrust to connect NRENs to Géant” Dear Member NREN! Connect to the Global REN: -via your VSAT, and - courtesy of Géant! You’ll need your own ASN and IP space - AfriNIC’s 50% discount Géant Commodity Internet London router (donated by CISCO; hosted by DANTE) GRE tunnels through ISP networks

11. 11 The “VREN” idea UbuntuNet router UbuntuNet routers at VSAT teleports in Europe VSAT- dependent campuses all over Africa Backhauls to London

12. 12 The Bandwidth Consortium Was part of the AVU Rescued by IDRC Now part of the Nigerian Universities Forum Bandwidth subsidy from PHEA Acts as a VSAT purchasing consortium Long relationship with Intelsat Well positioned to evolve into a VREN –IP addressing issues –Will require its own network identity (AN)

13. 13 UbuntuNet Operations Today

14. 14 UbuntuNet operations Internet Géant UbuntuNet, London VSAT connection. GRE tunnel to UbuntuNet KENET SAT-3 submarine cable UbuntuNet, Johannesburg TENET/ SANReN Swaziland Lesotho

15. 15 Backbone Development Concept Legend 23 cross border links Within-country link 16+ UbuntuNet country PoPs UbuntuNet routing hubs

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18. 18 Strategy for securing cross-border links 23 cross-border links to secure Five sub-projects –Structured to ensure routes to submarine cable landings from land-locked NRENs Contracts with the two NRENs on either side of each crossing –UbuntuNet contributes to NRENs’ development in return for cross-border capacity

19. 19 SAT-3 cable to London SEACOM cable to London Botswana Namibia Lesotho UbuntuNet by end-2009 Mtunzini Nairobi Jo’burg TENET Kampala Kigali Lilongwe Lusaka Dar es Salaam Mombasa Maputo INDIAN OCEAN AFRICA Swaziland

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