R. Steiner, K. Gakio – AAU Presentation Feb 23, 2005

Promoting African Research & Education Networking –Internet Bandwidth Challenges and Opportunities

Roy Steiner, PhDKaranja Gakiofor the IDRCFeb 23, 2005

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Higher Education Institutions in Africa

Source: Paul Hamilton, PAREN Study

ATICS 83 Institutions

PAREN646 Tertiary Institutions Mapped

Bandwidth:

1) Too Little

2) Too Expensive

3) Poorly Managed

Division between research and education

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Average Bandwidth Costs

Source: ATICS Survey 2004

A ve r a g e B a n d w d i th C o s ts ($U S D p e r K b p s ) b y R e g i o n

0 .12

0 .5 2

3 .6 3

4 .3 8

4 .7 0

5 .46

8 .0 0

0 2 4 6 8 10

US Un iv ers it y

N o rt h A fr ica

C en t ra l A fr ica

E a st A fr ica

So u t h ern A fr ica

A v era g e

W est A fr ica

R e g i o n

M e a n C o s t $U S D /K b p s

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Terrestrial/Sea Networks Growing

SAT 3 Cable

Source: IDRC

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Planned Backbone Expansions

East African Fiber

Source: IDRC

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Satellite coverage increasing

Source: IDRC

Currently 13 satellite operators have 51 satellites deployed with coverage over Africa

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

African National Networks - ExamplesMorocco TENET Tunisia

KENET NUNET Tanzania

Other NRENs include Egypt, Malawi and Algeria

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

African Continental Networks - Examples

Partnership for Higher Education

African Virtual University RESAFAO

Other multi country networks involved with/proposing bandwidth purchasing include SARUA, Mimcom

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Bandwidth requirements and potential consortium savings

Estimated Total Bandwidth Requirementsn=73

59

816

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Currentbandwidth

Bandwdithrequired

Band

wdi

th n

eeds

Mbps

2,906,568

1,456,848

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

Annual Cost of Bandwidth for 65institutions

Expected yearly consortium cost ofbandwidth for 65 institutions

Consortium can reduce costs by

50%

Requirements are over 10

times current available

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Potential Consortia

SAT 3 Consortium

All Africa VSAT

Consortium

EU Med Connect

East African Fibre Consortium

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Barriers and Solution

Available bandwidth (both cost and quantity)Adequate systems management, and

Regulatory issues.

A Consortium -centrally managed network using (at this time) satellite technology would address all these issues

Primary barriers to effective communication in African universities

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

VSAT Consortium Options

Types of Consortium

Multiple regional consortia

Established Entity takes the lead –i.e AVU

New independent entity

French, West Africa, Health etc

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Recommended Structure

Operations

Executive Management

Independent Board of Directors

Funding Agencies(Advisory)

Membership Representatives

(Advisory)

Expert Committees

Technical Service Providers

Key Characteristics

-Independent board to ensure fairness and focus on best interests of the network as a whole

-Small operational staff focused on contracting services and management

R. Steiner, K. Gakio

Learning from other successful models

Initial Donor/Government Funding importantConsortium must negotiate with governments to eliminate license fees and monopoly pricing – diplomacy keyConsortium governance must be non-profit, participatory and transparentPartnerships with private sector can be beneficialSustainability must be built into the model