East Africa Fibre Optic Cable: Connectivity, issues & progress

[Steve Dii]

Finally they'll start laying cables for this much anticipated ICT project in East Africa. I was delighted reading about it, but will it really be a saviour?

Fibre optic cable laying starts soon

2007-09-05 08:57:13
By Lusekelo Philemon


The East African Submarine Cable System (EASSY) is soon due to start laying an undersea communication fibre optic cable, the first of the kind, linking eastern Africa to the rest of the world.

The installation work is expected to start early next month, Zanzibar Telecom Limited (Zantel) Chief Executive Officer Noel Herrity told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

He said the project is expected to cost $200m and become operational by the end of next year.

The project is financed by the World Bank and global development finance institutions, notably, the Development Bank of South Africa, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, KfW Bankengruppe of Germany, and Agence Fran�aise de Developpement of France.

Communication experts say the implementation of the project would cut airtime tariffs to one-fourth of the ones now offered by telecommunication firms in the region.

Herrity said Zantel has been named overseer of the EASSY
cable station in Tanzania, adding: `All the necessary arrangements and preparatory works meant to pave the way for the installation of the cable in Dar es Salaam early next month are progressing well.`

Asked to describe the project, he explained that it was `a technological and commercial breakthrough of unparalleled significance in the midst of fast growth and dynamics of telecommunication sector in Africa`.

`Everything is ready and in place, including funding to enable the project to take off. Zantel is committed to chipping in with $10m in additional funding,` he noted.

The Zantel chief said the commitment of the direct foreign investment to the project was based on the development objectives of open, non-discriminatory access and affordable broadband capacity in the region.

`The key factors which all those party to EASSY have embraced also unpin the Regional Government Policy Guidelines for the development of regional ICT infrastructure,` Herrity pointed out.

Elaborating, he said the project was of utmost importance to Tanzania, which he saw as a country that has seen extensive growth in telecommunication technology in the recent times.

EASSY offers opportunities for large bandwidth, better communication quality and much higher data transmission speeds.

The submarine fibre-optic cable is widely expected to offer lower tariffs for international connectivity, thus meeting Tanzania`s demand for large bandwidth and higher data speeds.

`These advantages will allow Tanzania to handle a larger volume of communication for voice, data and high speed internet, media services amongst better quality services,` observed the Zantel executive.

`The EASSY project, coupled with the backhaul terrestrial links into the hinterland and across borders, is an important milestone in the overall economic development of Tanzania and the region - especially in the development of ICT for East African Community,`he said.

With the cable in Tanzania, all mobile operators, internet service providers and TV stations should have the opportunity to connect to the world at massive capacity and affordable rates.

Herrity explained that his firm would be responsible for accommodating, and providing access to, the cable from Tanzania.

`The cable routine will be such that a bit will enter land via Msasani Beach and will run all the way to Zantel Park Offices at the Old Bagamoyo Road (both stations in Dar es Salaam) by means of underground ducting,` he explained, adding that it would benefit not only Tanzania but also Kenya and Uganda.

Experts say the current use of satellite links in telecommunication systems is awfully expensive and limits many people`s access to information compared to the cable system.

Source:ippmedia

SteveD.

 

[Kasheshe]

In any case, the project is very important to our economy,,, wasiwasi wangu ni kwa corporate international company zitakuwa na sababu nzuri sana ya kuhamisha data centre zao Ulaya/Middle East na wabongo mtabaki na kuangalia kwamba server zinapata umeme au network cable iko plugged!

 

[Steve Dii]

Kilitime,
Hiyo ni point nzuri sana kuhusiana na electronic data, lakini pia huoni kuwa the opposite might be true for 'physical goods' nikimaanisha kuwa, hardware maintanance ya vitu ambavyo viko imported itawezekana hapo Tanzania kwani high speed communication to and fro zihusianazo na debugging/repair ya vifaa itawezekana online. Mafundi waliopo Tanzania wataweza kupata interactive help/learning on problem solving kutoka katika nchi zitengenezazo vifaa hivyo. Pia mambo ya telemedicine kutoka sehemu nafuu kama India nadhani yataweza kupunguzia gharama Taifa yakiwa implemented.

SteveD.

 

[Kasheshe]

Kilitime,
Hiyo ni point nzuri sana kuhusiana na electronic data, lakini pia huoni kuwa the opposite might be true for 'physical goods' nikimaanisha kuwa, hardware maintanance ya vitu ambavyo viko imported itawezekana hapo Tanzania kwani high speed communication to and fro zihusianazo na debugging/repair ya vifaa itawezekana online. Mafundi waliopo Tanzania wataweza kupata interactive help/learning on problem solving kutoka katika nchi zitengenezazo vifaa hivyo. Pia mambo ya telemedicine kutoka sehemu nafuu kama India nadhani yataweza kupunguzia gharama Taifa yakiwa implemented.

SteveD.

Rafiki Yangu SteveD,


Hoja zako ni nzuri lakini kwa ujumla wake umegusia mambo madogo madogo!!! faida kubwa ninazoziona ni hizi lakini kama tu tutakuwa makini!


1. Kuwa karibu na dunia nyingine in terms of communicaitons, biashara zitaenda kwa urahisi zaidi kama ulivyosema... lakini upande mwingine wa shillingi kama mtu aliyeko South Africa Ataweza ku-logon kwenye server pale PPF tower na kufanya mambo yote ikiwa ni pamoja na backup and restore,,, si atahitaji tu technician huku Tanzania wakuweka tape, au cable?

2. Telemedicine, Video Conference na n.k ni solution zinazofanya kazi vizuri kwenye LAN/MAN na national backbone... hivyo tunahitaji zaidi mtandao mpana humu ndani! hivyo project ya EASSY haisaidie hii more direct sana... ingawa ina mchango wake.

3. Kama moja hapo juu!!! lot of applications zita-be hosted London etc... kwa kuwa sio tatizo kwenye access na speed, na ukichukulia watanzania walivyowashamba ndio itakuwa wakati wake tena..

Pamoja na changamoto zote bado ni mradi muhimu sana, na tukichangamkia kiasi tukawa gateway kwa mataifa yasiyo na bahari... mambo yakuwa poa kwetu...

Nina mengi tutaongea baada ye!

 

[Kisura]

Telecommunications costs will certainly go down! Hapa ndipo wazalendo tutaponea, labda tutakuwa tunapigiana simu nakuongea sasa kwa unafuu badala ya ku-beep na texting 24/7!

 

[Steve Dii]

Telecommunications costs will certainly go down! Hapa ndipo wazalendo tutaponea, labda tutakuwa tunapigiana simu nakuongea sasa kwa unafuu badala ya ku-beep na texting 24/7!

Kisura, point ni nzuri, ila hilo la texting sidhani kama ni kwa sababu ya gharama tu.. miye naona sababu mojawapo ni upenzi wa text. Si wajua tena wengine hatuwezi kuongea, ila furaha iko katika kuandika. Nasema hivyo maana services za text zisingelikuwepo nyingi kwenye nchi ambazo ICT iko hali ya juu, lakini the opposite seems true.

SteveD.

 

[Steve Dii]

Rafiki Yangu SteveD,


Hoja zako ni nzuri lakini kwa ujumla wake umegusia mambo madogo madogo!!! faida kubwa ninazoziona ni hizi lakini kama tu tutakuwa makini!


1. Kuwa karibu na dunia nyingine in terms of communicaitons, biashara zitaenda kwa urahisi zaidi kama ulivyosema... lakini upande mwingine wa shillingi kama mtu aliyeko South Africa Ataweza ku-logon kwenye server pale PPF tower na kufanya mambo yote ikiwa ni pamoja na backup and restore,,, si atahitaji tu technician huku Tanzania wakuweka tape, au cable?

2. Telemedicine, Video Conference na n.k ni solution zinazofanya kazi vizuri kwenye LAN/MAN na national backbone... hivyo tunahitaji zaidi mtandao mpana humu ndani! hivyo project ya EASSY haisaidie hii more direct sana... ingawa ina mchango wake.

...
...tukichangamkia kiasi tukawa gateway kwa mataifa yasiyo na bahari... mambo yakuwa poa kwetu...

Nina mengi tutaongea baada ye!

Kili, samahani mkuu na ahsante kwa mchango wako, lakini sioni kama kitu nilichokiongelea kama mfano ni swala dogo... sijui kwa kweli, labda unamifano futuristic mikubwa zaidi mingine ambayo utaitoa baadae zaidi ya hilo la communication enhancement ulilosema hapo juu.

Kuhusu hilo swala la LAN/MAN na national backbone; kwani hizi zinatengenezwa na nini... si ni cables zikiwemo hizo fibre optic ndiyo zinajenga backbone network...au ulimaanisha kitu kingine?!

Kili, na pale unaposema kuwa technical centers hapa nchini kazi yake itakuwa ni zile ndogo ndogo tu, je hizo centres hazitahitaji hardware?!... ndiyo kwenye hili swala la hardware (physical goods) niliposema kuwa, mawasiliano yakiimarishwa basi hapatakuwa na haja ya vifaa hivyo kupelekwa nje ya nchi kutengenezwa au ma-technician kutoka nje ya nchi, maana naamini matengenezo mengi ya vifaa vya kisasa hutegemea sana distant online interactive help/debugging.. hivyo kama unavyosema, nami natumaini mengi yatatokea...

SteveD.

 

[Kisura]

Kisura, point ni nzuri, ila hilo la texting sidhani kama ni kwa sababu ya gharama tu.. miye naona sababu mojawapo ni upenzi wa text. Si wajua tena wengine hatuwezi kuongea, ila furaha iko katika kuandika. Nasema hivyo maana services za text zisingelikuwepo nyingi kwenye nchi ambazo ICT iko hali ya juu, lakini the opposite seems true.

SteveD.

SteveD,
Right, najua mko wengi mnao- prefer to 'text' and what not, but in Tanzania, it's just not an option. Cell phone charges are outrageous! Makampuni ya simu yana-charge pesa nyingi sana kupiga simu. Hii inawaacha watu bila ya option, ndio maana texting is used by most citizens as opposed to making a phone call. Sending a text costs 100/- or so Tshs while ukipiga simu its almost 600/-Tsh? na hiyo ni a minute. Sasa hapo mzee chagua mwenyewe. Anyhow, hii kitu ikikaa vizuri, itaweza kusaidia itapunguza zile charges makampuni ya simu yanalipa, thereafter(hopefully)reduce cost za simu za mikono. Siku hizi hata TTCL nao wamepandisha bei. Its' ridiculous!

PS: Hivi unajua kwa kampuni kama ya Voda, kupiga simu international is almost cheaper than making a phone call local??? I don't understand the logic in this, maybe someone can explain this to me...

 

[Kang]

Habari zinasema kuwa SEACOM fibre optic cable itaanza kutumika June mwaka huu.
Wadau mlio kwenye IT and Telecoms industry ya bongo naomba mtupe habari kama serikali na sekta binafsi inafanya maandalizi yoyote kuhakikisha kuwa TZ nzima inafaidika na Cable hiyo.

Nimesoma habari kuwa Kenya wanatandika fibre nchi nzima, Rwanda na Uganda nao wanafanya hivo. Sijasikia kitu kuhusu TZ, mwenye habari atafahamishe kinachoendea.

 

[Msanii]

Tanzania wanasa hela za kampeni muda huu unadhani wana muda wa kuunganisha mawasiliano nchi nzima?? unataka wananchi waelimike ili wakulu wakose kura?

 

[Ndahani]

Kama kawa, we are reactive instead of being proactive.Ikishafika pembezoni mwa bahari ndo tutajiuliza tufanye nayo nini.Bado hatujajua ina msaada gani kwenye kampeni na mambo yetu ya kisiasa.
Ipo kazi hii nchi

 

[SnEafer]

fingers crossed, hopfully tanzania will be connected.

 

[Mutensa]

Nasikia TCRA wanawapa TTCL kibali cha kusambaza fibre dar nzima halafu makampuni mengine ya simu yatachota kutoka kwa TTCL. Kisichokuwa wazi ni kama mtandao wa TTCL (fiber backbone) utapita silver sand ambako ndipo fiber hiyo itafikia.
kuhusu Kusambaza fiber nchi nzima, haina umuhimu sana hiyo maana makampuni ya simu tayari yana mtandao wa Microwave ya kasi kubwa (High capacity SDH systems). Pamoja na hayo kuna baadhi ya maeneo yatahitaji fibre connection kwa siku za usoni kwa ajili ya kuunganisha ma-jiji.
mwenye taarifa zaidi atupe.

 

[Killuminati]

Just a quick fact ndugu Kang hivi hiyo title ''Maataarisho'' ni kiswahili sahihi au ndugu unatokea nje ya Tanzania??

Kuuliza si ujinga.

 

[Kang]

Nasikia TCRA wanawapa TTCL kibali cha kusambaza fibre dar nzima halafu makampuni mengine ya simu yatachota kutoka kwa TTCL. Kisichokuwa wazi ni kama mtandao wa TTCL (fiber backbone) utapita silver sand ambako ndipo fiber hiyo itafikia.
kuhusu Kusambaza fiber nchi nzima, haina umuhimu sana hiyo maana makampuni ya simu tayari yana mtandao wa Microwave ya kasi kubwa (High capacity SDH systems). Pamoja na hayo kuna baadhi ya maeneo yatahitaji fibre connection kwa siku za usoni kwa ajili ya kuunganisha ma-jiji.
mwenye taarifa zaidi atupe.

Ahsante mkuu, imesaidia kidogo info.

 

[Mshiiri]

Just a quick fact ndugu Kang hivi hiyo title ''Maataarisho'' ni kiswahili sahihi au ndugu unatokea nje ya Tanzania??

Kuuliza si ujinga.

It is not bad but just unhelpful at this material time and subject!

 

[LazyDog]

Wewe, yule na mimi tumefanya matayarisho gani kupokea Fibre Cable?


Not very long hopefully, I will be a very successful person. May God not give me roho ya uchoyo.



.

 

[Kang]

Wewe, yule na mimi tumefanya matayarisho gani kupokea Fibre Cable?


Not very long hopefully, I will be a very successful person. May God not give me roho ya uchoyo.



.

Mimi nina list yangu ya vitu vya kudownload tayari! Naanza na Planet Earth HD Edition!

 

[Kang]

Just a quick fact ndugu Kang hivi hiyo title ''Maataarisho'' ni kiswahili sahihi au ndugu unatokea nje ya Tanzania??

Kuuliza si ujinga.

Nadhani umeona vibaya mkuu!
tehe! tehe!

 

[Sabode]

Heshima mbele jamvini
Wazee leo nimekuja na suala moja kuhusu fibre optic cable. Hope wote mnazo habari za ujio wa hii kitu. Suala ni kuwa kwa watumiaji wa kawaida mbali na kushuka kwa gharama za mawasiliano JE? kutakuwa na haja ya kufanya marekebisho yeyote katika vifaa vyetu vya kielektroniki?
Na kwa Tanzania itakuwa katika operation kamili wakati gani? ISP waliopo leo watashusha kwa kiasi gani gharama zao? Pia nimesikaia TANESCO ndo ita tumika katika usambazaji wa huduma hii kupitia miundo mbinu yake je haitakuwa na longolongo kama kawaida yao?
Msaada wa majibu plizzzzzzz