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ZM

Southern TZ

NA

MW

BW

SA

MZ

SW

LS

Figure 82: The UbuntuNet South Backbone Development Cluster:

existing and potential broadband links

As regards broadband terrestrial connectivity to the rest of the World, the UbuntuNet South

Cluster has four potential options:

1.

Connectivity through Melkbosstrand via the SAT-3 West Africa Submarine Cable

(WASC). This cable has been in operation since 2002, and connectivity services are

available now, but are expensive. some liberalisation of access to it is expected from 17

April 2007 when the so-called exclusivity rights accorded to the then incumbent (and

now privatized) operators, Telkom SA Limited expire.

2.

Connectivity through Mtunzini, north of Durban, South Africa, via the South Africa Far

East (SAFE) submarine cable, to Penang, Malazia, and thence, across the Pacific to the

west coast of the USA. The remarks in (a) about the expiry of Telkom SA Limited'

exclusivity rights apply here also.

3.

A combination of (a) and (b), in which UbuntuNet would purchase a virtual circuit

between Cape Town and, say, Amsterdam, in which the WASC is used normally but with

automatic fail-over to the SAFE. (Telkom SA currently provides such a service to

TENET).

4.

Connectivity via the EASSy cable (or the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure) via

landing points in Mtunzini, South Africa and Maputo, Mozambique.

What about an UbuntuNet West Backbone Development Cluster?

The Board is keen to work with existing and emerging NRENs in West and Central Africa to

identify and scope an UbuntuNet West Backbone Development Cluster. Among the countries

that might be included are all those with SAT-3 WASC landing points: Angola, Benin,

Cameroun, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and Sénégal, as well as "WASC hinterland"

countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and

others.

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