Resources

Open versus closed approaches to international fibre

With the dates for the kick-off of the EASSy roadshow tentatively set, Balancing Act's Russell Southwood shares his presentation on different approaches to international fibre.

EASSy presentations from around the world

A resource collection of presentations on EASSy that help to set the scene of why it's an issue and what it's all about.

Kenya: Key media and communications bills

Key Kenyan media and communications bills.

What is the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure network?

This article gives the background to the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure network. It has been compiled by the NEPAD e-Africa Commission.

Tracking cables

The undersea cable environment around the African continent continues to evolve. Proposed cables appear, disappear, merge. Steve Song from the Shuttleworth Foundation is keeping track.

About SAT3

Who does SAT3 connect?

A map showing the location of the landing stations of SAT3 member countries.

Who are SAT3’s members?

SAT3 has a total of 36 members along its full route. Of these, 12 are African members.

SAT3 and Nigeria

Harry Goldstein, from IEEE Spectrum, the magazine for one of the largest professional technology associations, was recently interviewed on the BBC World Service radio programme "Go Digital". The topic was SAT3 and the difficultly Nigerians have accessing its bandwidth for internet service and international calls. This link downloads a video of the show.

Wireless the way to go-go

Steven Cherry, from IEEE Spectrum, the magazine for one of the largest professional technology associations, discusses his recent article "Broadband a Go-Go" (dealing with wireless) on the WebTalkGuys Internet radio show. This link downloads the interview for RealOne Player.

News

SAT3 consortium contract emerges

A copy of the SAT3 shareholders' agreement has emerged in the public domain. The 76-page, highly confidential document was signed in June 1999. Amongst other things, it outlines the capacity held by the different partners as well as the consortium's governance structure. Russell Southwood investigates.

Why we need affordable international bandwidth

Background report: Launch of the university bandwidth consortium, UbuntuNet

The internet is essential to a modern university. This is particularly true for African universities, which need access to up-to-date information, as well as opportunities to collaborate with colleagues around the world and publish content online. Yet African universities pay dramatically more for internet access than comparable institutions on other continents, writes Lisa Waldick.

Breaking through with broadband

Breakthroughs in the delivery of the internet have created a variety of ways to spread high-speed Internet in developing countries, in some cases bringing remote regions online more rapidly than expected. Read this useful introduction to broadband.

Flattening the world with fibre

This paper aims to define fibre optic technology, how fibre optic networks function, and explains how different this technology is from other communication infrastructures. The article further outlines the prospects for fibre optic technology in Africa, looks at some fibre optic networks on the continent, as well as at how fibre optics applications are being used to enhance technological and economic development.