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The UbuntuNet Alliance is seeking the support of Governments and major funding agencies,

which are always involved in proposals for major infrastructural development, in finding ways to

identify each such opportunity at an early stage and to exploit it.

The initial UbuntuNet backbone development clusters:

The UbuntuNet backbone development clusters are defined opportunistically, on the basis of the

potential for broadband terrestrial connectivity within the cluster and from the cluster to the rest

of the World. Thus the clusters can be thought of as broadband islands, within which broadband

connectivity can be sensibly developed. Initially, some countries are not included in any

backbone development cluster. As opportunities arise and development progresses, the clusters

will be modified, new ones will be identified and existing ones merged. Ultimately, as the

UbuntuNet Backbone becomes more comprehensive, all sub-regions will inter-connect

comprehensively with each other and there will be no need for clusters with separate identities as

development projects.

The Board has identified and named two initial UbuntuNet backbone development clusters as

follows: the UbuntuNet East Backbone Development Cluster and the UbuntuNet South Backbone

Development Cluster. These are discussed in turn in the following paragraphs.

The UbuntuNet East Backbone Development Cluster: Figure 81 below depicts existing and

potential terrestrial links within the UbuntuNet East Backbone Development Cluster.

UbuntuNet's access to these links is being actively pursued.

The UbuntuNet East Backbone Development Cluster was originally conceived as comprising

countries that would have access to the proposed EASSy cable.  However because of the

continuing uncertainties as to the viability of that project, it is better to think of the East Cluster as

comprising those countries that have, or soon will have, broadband terrestrial connectivity to

Mombassa. These countries include Ethiopia, Kenya itself, Rwanda, Sudan, northern Tanzania,

Uganda and Zambia. (Consequently, the seemingly distinguished role accorded to Mombassa in

the definition is illusory ­ for example, Kampala or Kigali could just as well have been specified

instead.)

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