ICT eAfrica

1

The quest for lower Bandwidth costs for African
Universities A case of the African Virtual
University PIs Partnership Supported
Universities By SANDRA ALUOCH saluoch_at_avu.org
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Background

• The AVU was established in 1997 as a World Bank
  project to dramatically increase access to
  tertiary education by utilizing ICTs.
• The AVU has received funding from the EU, NORAD,
  Ireland, US Gov., AusAID, DfID, CIDA the World
  Bank.
• Currently provides education programs at
  undergraduate and professional development
  programs.
• Provides access to online educational materials
  with an online digital library with over 1,000
  full text journals
• Access to high speed Internet services
• Learning Centers with multimedia PCs

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AVU sites
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Content delivery Past, Present and Future

• PROOF OF CONCEPT (1997-2001)
• 100 delivery by satellite video broadcasting
  (synchronous and asynchronous)
• Interaction 90 using telephone
• PRESENT (2002-2005)
• Video broadcasting (synchronous and asynchronous)
• On-line Learning (WebCT)
• Interaction by email, discussion forums, on-line
  chat (90) and telephone (10)
• FUTURE (2006-)
• On-line learning integrating video, voice and
  multimedia data
• VSAT for high speed Internet access
• Major shift from video broadcasting only to mixed
  mode delivery

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Why Connectivity?

• Internet Connectivity critical for Open Distance
  and
• e-Learning (ODeL) and used for
• Communication (email)
• Collaboration (discussion forums, chat)
• Course and content delivery (online learning)
• Academic management of courses
• Access to educational resources (e.g. digital
  library)

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Challenges - Connectivity

• Poor, unreliable and expensive
• Few satellites covering whole of Africa
• Limited fiber access
• Typical University has 64 Kbps leased line at
  average of 1,000 per month or 15 per kbps per
  month
• Almost never dedicated
• Average for African Universities- about 10 per
  kbps
• Affects delivery, interaction and access to
  learning resources e.g. digital library

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Searching for solutions

• AVU conducted research and surveys
• Commissioned independent consultants (2002 and
  2003)
• Determine feasibility of KU-band VSAT systems and
  low cost VSAT alternatives
• Review satellite coverage over Africa
• Review technology options
• Determine feasibility of AVU own hub, location
  and cost
• Undertake bandwidth and hardware cost survey
• Undertake licensing regime survey
• Design and optimize network
• Develop technical specification for RFP
• Evaluate proposals
• Provide input to contract negotiations

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Important findings

• VSAT was only viable solution short to medium
  term
• C-Band more feasible than Ku Band
• Higher availability, larger single beam coverage
• C- Band capacity is minimal
• Upfront reservation/ commitment may be required
• Significant costs reduction realized only when
  full transponder loading achieved
• Under 3 per kbps for 100 MBPS
• Longer commitment terms can reduce costs
• over 5 years
• African Universities (and institutions generally)
  have poor reputations for payment
• Providers likely to demand large guarantees
• Fiber very expensive
• Costs over 4 per kbps without landing fees

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AVU VSAT Installations

• Phase 1
• Kenya AVU headquarters 160K/256 Kbps
• Kenya Kenyatta University 96K/384 Kbps
• Ghana University of Cape Coast 96K/384 Kbps
• Ghana Ghana Institute of Management and Public
  Administration 128/512 Kbps
• Ethiopia Addis Ababa University 32/128 Kbps

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AVU VSAT Installations
Phase 2

• Burundi - Université Lumiere
• Benin - Université d Abomey Calavi
• Mauritania - Université de Nouakchott
• Senegal -Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis
• Senegal- Universite Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar
• Niger- Universite Abdou Moumouni
• Rwanda - Universite Nationale du Rwanda
• Rwanda Kigali Institute of Science Tech
• Mali- Universite de Bamako
• Burkina Faso- Universite de Ouagadougou
• All receiving 64/128 Kbps

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Moves to date

• Contracted by Partnership for Higher Education in
  Africa
• How to acquire and benefit from lower bandwidth
  costs
• AVU given mandate by VC to negotiate for and
  obtain lower pricing
• With World Bank support started ATICS initiative
• Survey of 83 universities across Africa to date
• Database of African Universities and ICT and
  connectivity information www.atics.info

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AVU findings

• AVU developed and floated tender for the
  Partnership supported Universities
• Consortium approach utilized
• University of Dar es Salaam
• Makerere University
• Eduardo Mondlane University
• University of Ghana
• University of Education
• Ahmadu Bello University
• Obafemi Awolowo University
• Bayero University
• University of Ibadan
• University of Jos
• University of Port Harcourt
• Association of African Universities
• KENET

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Consortium Approach

• Consolidating (aggregating) bandwidth needs can
  achieve
• economies of scale,
• greater bargaining leverage
• command volume discounts

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Cost Trends
1997-2001 20 Kbps
2002 13 Kpbs
2003 8.90 Kbps
2004 5.0 Kbps
2004 4.2 Kbps
2005 2.33 Kbps
Future 1.00 Kbps or less
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Challenges of the VSAT network

• Payment of recurring charges
• Setup of the Local Area Networks (LAN)
• Cost of the service
• Bandwidth management
• Equipment costs

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Way forward

• AVU to continue negotiating for lower bandwidth
  pricing and pass
• discounts to Universities in the network
• Maintenance and Sustainability
• Provide comprehensive technical support for all
  the centers with VSAT
• Local Area Networks redesign and implementation
• Assist in the formulation, recommendation and
  implementation of ICT policies that provide for
  network setup, operations, bandwidth monitoring,
  control and management.