Internet via Optic Fibre Arrives in Zambia! (Guest Blog)

Connecting to the Internet backbone using optic fibre may not make headlines in Europe, US or some parts of Asia but it does in Zambia!

Since ZAMNET Communication Systems Limited introduced the Internet to Zambian in 1994, connectivity to the world Internet Exchange points has been by means of Satellite technology. Those of you who have had an opportunity to access Internet via satellite are aware of the sluggish performance that is inherent to the IP packets traversing such a link. Further the growing demand for broadband fuelled by bandwidth intensive applications has pushed utilisation of satellites that have a footprint on Africa to the limit, resulting in a “space segment rush” and soaring cost of service. The failed launch of a NewSkies Boeing BSS-702 satellite in January 2007 (http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Sea_Launch_Explodes_On_Pad_999.html) created a capacity crisis that resulted in providers quoting higher rates due to the demand exceeding supply. Most operators had pre-purchased capacity on transponders on this satellite and used that to project lower costs of capacity to mobile and Internet providers in Africa. Clearly the opposite is what has transpired.
On 1st July 2009, ZAMNET successfully set up a new Internet gateway using optic fibre, end-to-end into Europe. ZAMNET is still running tests and carrying out optimisation exercises to ensure that once the service becomes available to its customers on 1^st August 2009, no surprises will derail the launch. This is the first such connection in the country and marks a significant milestone in the development of Internet in Zambia. The connection that delivers an IP pipe between the ZAMNET server room and Europe over optic fibre will no doubt ‘legitimise’ the use of such technology in the country and will open a flood gate for other providers to emulate.

This connection has been achieved through Zambia Electricity Company’s fibre network, Telecom Namibia’s infrastructure and the South Atlantic-3/West Africa submarine cable that runs on the West coast into Europe. The initial connection involves an SMT-1 circuit providing for bandwidth up-scaling in view of the increasing demand in Broadband services.

There is anticipation that things will get better in terms of redundancy and pricing with the much awaited SEACOM cable coming into operation. Other cables that are either on the drawing board or on ships awaiting deployment are also welcome to making Africa a more connected continent.

It is anticipated that this development will not only improve Internet access speeds but open a new era in the life of the Internet in Zambia. It will mean that online multi-media service will become easier to access and use and also provides an opportunity to establishment of reliable cross-border and inter-continental Virtual private Networks. The use of fibre also makes available more uplink bandwidth paving way for more reliable hosting services. One of the areas that Zambia is lagging behind is in the area of content generation. This has, partly, been due to limited uplink bandwidth to the Internet.

Of course the pipe to the Internet is not the end of the story – the story is much longer than that! There is the issue of building a reliable national backbone that will ensure that there is sound intra-Zambia connectivity before we talk to the rest of the world. Efforts by companies like ZAMTEL, CEC and ZESCO in building backbones that reliably interconnect towns and cities are commendable and give hope for tomorrow. Of course there are tons of arguments on how this could have been done better but that does not take away from the contribution.

ZAMNET is busy building WiMAX base stations to expand coverage of portable broadband and gladly welcomes investment in technology that enhances the vision that will increase the very low Internet penetration in the country that is currently estimated at below 5% to more decent figures. Although Internet is not the end in itself, it undoubtedly provides a fairer playing field for innovation and business in general.