ICT Statistics Newslog - Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/ <i>News related to ITU Telecommunication/ICT Statistics</i> ITU Thu, 23 May 2013 11:59:01 GMT newtelligence dasBlog 2.0.7226.0 indicators@itu.int indicators@itu.int http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=466de8a9-19db-45b6-bd03-88d156e0d439 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,466de8a9-19db-45b6-bd03-88d156e0d439.aspx Some Other User Orange Tunisia and Qtel mobile subsidiary Tunisiana have signed an agreement with European carrier Interoute for the commissioning of a submarine cable connecting Kelibia, Tunisia, to Mazara del Vallo, Sicily. The 170 km cable called Didon will be Tunisia's first private submarine cable. It is due to be commissioned in April 2014 and to deliver a capacity of 8Tbps per operator. The cable will connect to Interoute's European fibre network at the landing point in Italy. It will use Alcatel-Lucent 100G submarine technology and will expand the capabilities of Orange Tunisia and Tunisiana's existing international networks, providing better throughput to support growth in fixed and mobile data traffic.

Source: Telecom Paper.

Orange, Tunisiana, Interoute plan new undersea cable (Tunisia) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,466de8a9-19db-45b6-bd03-88d156e0d439.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Orange+Tunisiana+Interoute+Plan+New+Undersea+Cable+Tunisia.aspx Thu, 23 May 2013 11:59:01 GMT Orange Tunisia and Qtel mobile subsidiary Tunisiana have signed an agreement with European carrier Interoute for the commissioning of a submarine cable connecting Kelibia, Tunisia, to Mazara del Vallo, Sicily. The 170 km cable called Didon will be Tunisia's first private submarine cable. It is due to be commissioned in April 2014 and to deliver a capacity of 8Tbps per operator. The cable will connect to Interoute's European fibre network at the landing point in Italy. It will use Alcatel-Lucent 100G submarine technology and will expand the capabilities of Orange Tunisia and Tunisiana's existing international networks, providing better throughput to support growth in fixed and mobile data traffic. <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telecompaper.com/news/orange-tunisiana-interoute-plan-new-undersea-cable--944038?utm_source=headlines_-_english&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=17-05-2013&amp;utm_content=textlink">Telecom Paper</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=466de8a9-19db-45b6-bd03-88d156e0d439" /> Bandwidth International Internet http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=a11807c9-8bf8-4f57-a7c3-b0052dd49ab4 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,a11807c9-8bf8-4f57-a7c3-b0052dd49ab4.aspx Some Other User

New data from TeleGeography’s Global Bandwidth Research Service reveal that demand for international bandwidth grew 39% in 2012, and at a compounded annual rate of 53% between 2007 and 2012.

International bandwidth demand growth has been robust on all five of the world’s major submarine cable routes, but has been particularly rapid on key routes to emerging markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. While bandwidth demand on the trans-Atlantic route – which has long been the world’s highest-capacity route – increased at a healthy rate of 36% annually between 2007 and 2012, demand for bandwidth from the US to Latin America grew 70% per year over the same period, and demand for capacity on the Europe-Asia route via Egypt grew a staggering 87% per year.

Telcos have kept up with increasing bandwidth demand by building new cables and upgrading existing systems, deploying a total of 54Tbps of new capacity between 2007 and 2012. Carriers’ new capacity deployments reflect the changing patterns of international bandwidth demand. Between 1997 and 2002, the amount of new capacity deployed across the Atlantic was greater than the amount deployed on the trans-Pacific, US-Latin America, Intra-Asia, and Europe-Asia routes, combined. Similarly, between 2002 and 2007, nearly half of all new capacity was deployed on the trans-Atlantic route. Over the past five years, however, new capacity deployments have become remarkably balanced, with each of the world’s major routes gaining between 10Tbps and 12Tbps.

‘While the total amount of lit bandwidth on routes to developing markets remains smaller than on routes between mature markets, demand on emerging market routes is growing much faster,’ said TeleGeography analyst Paul Brodsky. ‘Consequently, as telcos upgrade submarine cable networks to meet bandwidth demand, new capacity deployments are being distributed ever more evenly around the world.’

Source: TeleGeography.

International bandwidth demand is decentralising http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,a11807c9-8bf8-4f57-a7c3-b0052dd49ab4.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/International+Bandwidth+Demand+Is+Decentralising.aspx Mon, 06 May 2013 08:21:46 GMT <p> <img alt="" src="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/assets/comms_update/images/assets/news20130417-1.gif"> </p> <p> New data from TeleGeography’s Global Bandwidth Research Service reveal that demand for international bandwidth grew 39% in 2012, and at a compounded annual rate of 53% between 2007 and 2012. </p> <p> International bandwidth demand growth has been robust on all five of the world’s major submarine cable routes, but has been particularly rapid on key routes to emerging markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. While bandwidth demand on the trans-Atlantic route – which has long been the world’s highest-capacity route – increased at a healthy rate of 36% annually between 2007 and 2012, demand for bandwidth from the US to Latin America grew 70% per year over the same period, and demand for capacity on the Europe-Asia route via Egypt grew a staggering 87% per year. </p> <p> Telcos have kept up with increasing bandwidth demand by building new cables and upgrading existing systems, deploying a total of 54Tbps of new capacity between 2007 and 2012. Carriers’ new capacity deployments reflect the changing patterns of international bandwidth demand. Between 1997 and 2002, the amount of new capacity deployed across the Atlantic was greater than the amount deployed on the trans-Pacific, US-Latin America, Intra-Asia, and Europe-Asia routes, combined. Similarly, between 2002 and 2007, nearly half of all new capacity was deployed on the trans-Atlantic route. Over the past five years, however, new capacity deployments have become remarkably balanced, with each of the world’s major routes gaining between 10Tbps and 12Tbps. </p> <p> ‘While the total amount of lit bandwidth on routes to developing markets remains smaller than on routes between mature markets, demand on emerging market routes is growing much faster,’ said TeleGeography analyst Paul Brodsky. ‘Consequently, as telcos upgrade submarine cable networks to meet bandwidth demand, new capacity deployments are being distributed ever more evenly around the world.’ </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2013/04/17/international-bandwidth-demand-is-decentralising/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=a11807c9-8bf8-4f57-a7c3-b0052dd49ab4" /> Bandwidth Internet International http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=6d155990-2b6c-4d99-9d97-d585e82bc533 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,6d155990-2b6c-4d99-9d97-d585e82bc533.aspx Some Other User

In a statement published in Cuban newspaper Granma, state-owned telecoms operator Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA) has confirmed that internet traffic is being carried by the island’s first submarine fibre-optic cable. The telecoms monopoly stated that the Alternativa Bolivariana para los Pueblos de nuestra America (ALBA-1) cable, which connects Cuba to Venezuela, has been carrying international voice traffic since August 2012, while data traffic tests have been carried out on the cable since 10 January 2013. When the testing process is completed, however, ETECSA noted that the launch of the cable ‘will not automatically mean that the possibility of access will increase,’ adding that investment in the domestic telecoms infrastructure is required and that even then the goal is ‘gradual growth of a service that we offer mostly for free and with social aims in mind.’ Historically, Cuba has had to access the internet via expensive and slow satellite connections, but earlier this month internet monitoring firm Renesys observed that the ALBA-1 cable had finally been activated, almost two years after the system first landed on the island.

Source: TeleGeography.

Cuba confirms first submarine cable is active http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,6d155990-2b6c-4d99-9d97-d585e82bc533.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Cuba+Confirms+First+Submarine+Cable+Is+Active.aspx Wed, 30 Jan 2013 07:48:01 GMT <p> In a statement published in Cuban newspaper Granma, state-owned telecoms operator Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA) has confirmed that internet traffic is being carried by the island’s first submarine fibre-optic cable. The telecoms monopoly stated that the Alternativa Bolivariana para los Pueblos de nuestra America (ALBA-1) cable, which connects Cuba to Venezuela, has been carrying international voice traffic since August 2012, while data traffic tests have been carried out on the cable since 10 January 2013. When the testing process is completed, however, <span class=caps>ETECSA</span> noted that the launch of the cable ‘will not automatically mean that the possibility of access will increase,’ adding that investment in the domestic telecoms infrastructure is required and that even then the goal is ‘gradual growth of a service that we offer mostly for free and with social aims in mind.’ Historically, Cuba has had to access the internet via expensive and slow satellite connections, but earlier this month internet monitoring firm Renesys observed that the <span class=caps>ALBA</span>-1 cable had finally been activated, almost two years after the system first landed on the island. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2013/01/25/cuba-confirms-first-submarine-cable-is-active/?utm_source=CommsUpdate&amp;utm_campaign=d99ad5b718-CommsUpdate+25+January+2013&amp;utm_medium=email">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=6d155990-2b6c-4d99-9d97-d585e82bc533" /> Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=d3dba3a4-17b0-4119-9169-23658cd2b7ae http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,d3dba3a4-17b0-4119-9169-23658cd2b7ae.aspx Some Other User

A fibre-optic undersea cable that links Cuba with the global internet via Venezuela appears to have finally been activated, almost two years after the system first landed on the island. In the past week, internet monitoring firm Renesys has observed much lower latencies in Cuba, while noting that Spanish telecoms firm Telefonica has begun service to the island’s state-owned telecoms monopoly, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA). The 1,600km cable, known as Alternativa Bolivariana para los Pueblos de nuestra America (ALBA-1), landed on Siboney beach in Cuba in February 2011, but no further developments on the cable’s progress have been reported until now. In an online blog, Renesys noted that traffic via the cable seems only to be flowing into the country, not out of it: ‘Telefonica’s service to ETECSA is, either by design or misconfiguration, using its new cable asymmetrically (i.e. for traffic in only one direction) In such a configuration, ETECSA enjoys greater bandwidth and lower latencies (along the submarine cable) when receiving internet traffic but continues to use satellite services for sending traffic.’ Cuba accesses the internet via expensive and slow satellite connections, and while the activation of the undersea cable system is a first steps towards providing ETECSA with a better link to the internet, Renesys noted that it is unlikely to lead to widespread public access to the World Wide Web, in the short term at least.

Source: TeleGeography.

Cuba’s first submarine cable shows signs of activity (Cuba, Venezuela) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,d3dba3a4-17b0-4119-9169-23658cd2b7ae.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Cubas+First+Submarine+Cable+Shows+Signs+Of+Activity+Cuba+Venezuela.aspx Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:06:06 GMT <p> A fibre-optic undersea cable that links Cuba with the global internet via Venezuela appears to have finally been activated, almost two years after the system first landed on the island. In the past week, internet monitoring firm Renesys has observed much lower latencies in Cuba, while noting that Spanish telecoms firm Telefonica has begun service to the island’s state-owned telecoms monopoly, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba (ETECSA). The 1,600km cable, known as Alternativa Bolivariana para los Pueblos de nuestra America (ALBA-1), landed on Siboney beach in Cuba in February 2011, but no further developments on the cable’s progress have been reported until now. In an online blog, Renesys noted that traffic via the cable seems only to be flowing into the country, not out of it: ‘Telefonica’s service to <span class=caps>ETECSA</span> is, either by design or misconfiguration, using its new cable asymmetrically (i.e. for traffic in only one direction) In such a configuration, <span class=caps>ETECSA</span> enjoys greater bandwidth and lower latencies (along the submarine cable) when receiving internet traffic but continues to use satellite services for sending traffic.’ Cuba accesses the internet via expensive and slow satellite connections, and while the activation of the undersea cable system is a first steps towards providing <span class=caps>ETECSA</span> with a better link to the internet, Renesys noted that it is unlikely to lead to widespread public access to the World Wide Web, in the short term at least. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2013/01/22/cubas-first-submarine-cable-shows-signs-of-activity/?utm_source=CommsUpdate&amp;utm_campaign=fa4d32b5bc-CommsUpdate+22+January+2013&amp;utm_medium=email">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=d3dba3a4-17b0-4119-9169-23658cd2b7ae" /> Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=2a7316c5-5488-4479-9907-120dccf1da21 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,2a7316c5-5488-4479-9907-120dccf1da21.aspx Some Other User

Equatorial Guinea is set to expand broadband connectivity next year, when it connects its national telecoms infrastructure to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, Biztech Africa reports. The ACE cable will be landed at Bata, Equatorial Guinea’s largest city and economic hub, where a control centre for the cable will be installed and is due to be operational by 6 December 2013. Management of the cable will fall to the newly established Management and Maintenance of Telecommunication Infrastructures Organisation in Equatorial Guinea (GITGE), which was set up in July this year. Carmelo Martin Modu, secretary of state for technology and telecommunications commented: ‘Equatorial Guinea is working to expand its broadband connectivity. We believe that through our participation in the ACE project, we will continue to reduce the digital divide that exists in our country and improve our communications’ quality and reach.’

Source: TeleGeography.

Equatorial Guinea to boost connectivity with ACE cable http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,2a7316c5-5488-4479-9907-120dccf1da21.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Equatorial+Guinea+To+Boost+Connectivity+With+ACE+Cable.aspx Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:31:40 GMT <p> Equatorial Guinea is set to expand broadband connectivity next year, when it connects its national telecoms infrastructure to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, Biztech Africa reports. The <span class=caps>ACE</span> cable will be landed at Bata, Equatorial Guinea’s largest city and economic hub, where a control centre for the cable will be installed and is due to be operational by 6 December 2013. Management of the cable will fall to the newly established Management and Maintenance of Telecommunication Infrastructures Organisation in Equatorial Guinea (GITGE), which was set up in July this year. Carmelo Martin Modu, secretary of state for technology and telecommunications commented: ‘Equatorial Guinea is working to expand its broadband connectivity. We believe that through our participation in the <span class=caps>ACE</span> project, we will continue to reduce the digital divide that exists in our country and improve our communications’ quality and reach.’ </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/12/11/equatorial-guinea-to-boost-connectivity-with-ace-cable/?utm_source=CommsUpdate&amp;utm_campaign=54ce179c1f-CommsUpdate+11+December+2012&amp;utm_medium=email">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=2a7316c5-5488-4479-9907-120dccf1da21" /> Africa Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=ef6f57ae-4908-4b6b-ac99-70103b204a3e http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,ef6f57ae-4908-4b6b-ac99-70103b204a3e.aspx Some Other User

Japanese-owned NTT Com Asia has landed the Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE) fibre cable in Hong Kong, where it has set a target commercial launch date by the end of the first quarter of 2013. ASE connects Hong Kong to Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia, and launched services on this four-country route in August 2012. The 7,800km fibre system (including the 300km section to Hong Kong), cost USD430 million to build.

As shown on TeleGeography’s Submarine Cable map site (based on the research firm’s Global Bandwidth Research Service), ASE is the eighth high speed undersea cable system landed in Hong Kong, with two others pending. The other seven existing cables are: APCN-2; Asia-America Gateway (AAG); EAC-C2C; FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop; FLAG Europe-Asia (FEA); SeaMeWe-3; and Tata TGN-Intra Asia (TGN-IA). Two other planned systems are: Southeast Asia Japan Cable (SJC) and Asia Pacific Gateway (APG).

Source: TeleGeography.

NTT lands ASE in Hong Kong ahead of target Q1 launch http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,ef6f57ae-4908-4b6b-ac99-70103b204a3e.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/NTT+Lands+ASE+In+Hong+Kong+Ahead+Of+Target+Q1+Launch.aspx Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:27:47 GMT <p> Japanese-owned <span class=caps>NTT</span> Com Asia has landed the Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE) fibre cable in Hong Kong, where it has set a target commercial launch date by the end of the first quarter of 2013. <span class=caps>ASE</span> connects Hong Kong to Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia, and launched services on this four-country route in August 2012. The 7,800km fibre system (including the 300km section to Hong Kong), cost <span class=caps>USD430</span> million to build. </p> <p> As shown on TeleGeography’s Submarine Cable map site (based on the research firm’s Global Bandwidth Research Service), <span class=caps>ASE</span> is the eighth high speed undersea cable system landed in Hong Kong, with two others pending. The other seven existing cables are: <span class=caps>APCN</span>-2; Asia-America Gateway (AAG); <span class=caps>EAC</span>-C2C; <span class=caps>FLAG</span> North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop; <span class=caps>FLAG</span> Europe-Asia (FEA); SeaMeWe-3; and Tata <span class=caps>TGN</span>-Intra Asia (TGN-IA). Two other planned systems are: Southeast Asia Japan Cable (SJC) and Asia Pacific Gateway (APG). </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/12/13/ntt-lands-ase-in-hong-kong-ahead-of-target-q1-launch/?utm_source=CommsUpdate&amp;utm_campaign=95a645c72b-CommsUpdate+13+December+2012&amp;utm_medium=email">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=ef6f57ae-4908-4b6b-ac99-70103b204a3e" /> Asia-Pacific Bandwidth Infrastructure http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=2a85dabc-e07d-4369-944e-ca7056e9c81a http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,2a85dabc-e07d-4369-944e-ca7056e9c81a.aspx

Niger’s state-owned telco Sonitel has begun work on laying a 300km fibre-optic cable link between Dosso and Konni, reports Afriscoop. At a launch ceremony, the country’s communications minister stated that the government’s goal is to increase broadband coverage from the 54% recorded in 2010 to 72% by 2015. Afriscoop also states that a second fibre link will connect Konni and Zinder, with work expected to begin in October.

Source: Telegeography.

Fibre-optic cable to link Dosso and Konni http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,2a85dabc-e07d-4369-944e-ca7056e9c81a.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Fibreoptic+Cable+To+Link+Dosso+And+Konni.aspx Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:01:25 GMT <div class=article-text> <p> Niger’s state-owned telco Sonitel has begun work on laying a 300km fibre-optic cable link between Dosso and Konni, reports Afriscoop. At a launch ceremony, the country’s communications minister stated that the government’s goal is to increase broadband coverage from the 54% recorded in 2010 to 72% by 2015. Afriscoop also states that a second fibre link will connect Konni and Zinder, with work expected to begin in October. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/09/14/fibre-optic-cable-to-link-dosso-and-konni/">Telegeography</a>. </p> </div> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=2a85dabc-e07d-4369-944e-ca7056e9c81a" /> Africa Bandwidth Infrastructure http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=9dfde1fd-1194-4e45-b9a8-4041cfd100b2 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,9dfde1fd-1194-4e45-b9a8-4041cfd100b2.aspx

Landlocked Botswana has inaugurated its link to the West African Cable System (WACS), which was launched last month and stretches 14,900km along the west coast of Africa, reports AFP. Botswana partnered with neighbouring Namibia in each raising USD37.5 million to invest in a 9.2% stake in the cable consortium. Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) will co-locate services within the Swakopmund landing station operated by Telecom Namibia, under the WACS open access policy. The USD750 million WACS submarine cable has a capacity of 5.12Tbps and links South Africa to the UK with landings in Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and Portugal.

Source: Telegeography.

Botswana launches WACS link http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,9dfde1fd-1194-4e45-b9a8-4041cfd100b2.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Botswana+Launches+WACS+Link.aspx Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:16:47 GMT <div class=article-text> <p> Landlocked Botswana has inaugurated its link to the West African Cable System (WACS), which was launched last month and stretches 14,900km along the west coast of Africa, reports <span class=caps>AFP</span>. Botswana partnered with neighbouring Namibia in each raising <span class=caps>USD37</span>.5 million to invest in a 9.2% stake in the cable consortium. Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) will co-locate services within the Swakopmund landing station operated by Telecom Namibia, under the <span class=caps>WACS</span> open access policy. The <span class=caps>USD750</span> million <span class=caps>WACS</span> submarine cable has a capacity of 5.12Tbps and links South Africa to the UK with landings in Namibia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and Portugal. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/06/27/botswana-launches-wacs-link/">Telegeography</a>. </p> </div> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=9dfde1fd-1194-4e45-b9a8-4041cfd100b2" /> Africa Bandwidth Broadband http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=632dc1ed-306d-433c-a32d-8ede316d3a28 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,632dc1ed-306d-433c-a32d-8ede316d3a28.aspx

MTN Nigeria has introduced a range of new services for business customers based on the recently launched West African Cable System (WACS). IT News Africa reports that the services are managed by MTN Business and will provide high quality, low latency internet access to wholesalers such as internet service providers (ISPs), internet bandwidth resellers and carriers, as well as mobile users across the country. ‘MTN has the unique advantage of a pre-existing extensive terrestrial Internet Protocol (IP) and broadband backbone infrastructure, enabling us to deliver high grade and highly available internet capacity to anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria,’ said MTN’s chief enterprise solutions officer, Babatunde Osho. As noted in TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, the USD650 million WACS cable system went live in May 2012, linking Europe, West Africa and South Africa with landings in the UK, Portugal, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. In Nigeria the cable is managed by MTN from its landing point to the last mile operated service. The total capacity of the system is 5.12Tbps.

Source: TeleGeography.

MTN utilises WACS with launch of new services (Nigeria) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,632dc1ed-306d-433c-a32d-8ede316d3a28.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/MTN+Utilises+WACS+With+Launch+Of+New+Services+Nigeria.aspx Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:41:26 GMT <p> <span class=caps>MTN</span> Nigeria has introduced a range of new services for business customers based on the recently launched West African Cable System (WACS). IT News Africa reports that the services are managed by <span class=caps>MTN</span> Business and will provide high quality, low latency internet access to wholesalers such as internet service providers (ISPs), internet bandwidth resellers and carriers, as well as mobile users across the country. ‘MTN has the unique advantage of a pre-existing extensive terrestrial Internet Protocol (IP) and broadband backbone infrastructure, enabling us to deliver high grade and highly available internet capacity to anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria,’ said <span class=caps>MTN</span>’s chief enterprise solutions officer, Babatunde Osho. As noted in TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, the <span class=caps>USD650</span> million <span class=caps>WACS</span> cable system went live in May 2012, linking Europe, West Africa and South Africa with landings in the UK, Portugal, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. In Nigeria the cable is managed by <span class=caps>MTN</span> from its landing point to the last mile operated service. The total capacity of the system is 5.12Tbps. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/07/10/mtn-utilises-wacs-with-launch-of-new-services/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=632dc1ed-306d-433c-a32d-8ede316d3a28" /> Backbone Bandwidth Infrastructure http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=8fa4430c-8c89-4d5f-b4de-8c9fd68331f4 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,8fa4430c-8c89-4d5f-b4de-8c9fd68331f4.aspx

Reliance Globalcom, the submarine cable subsidiary of Reliance Communications, has announced that it has connected Iraq to its FALCON cable network at the Al-Faw landing station, which was built in partnership with Iraqi Telecommunications and Post Company (ITPC). Reuters cites a company statement from the Indian firm as saying that the launch of the landing station will connect Iraq directly to countries in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America. Reliance Globalcom said the station has a design capacity of 680Gbps with two diverse routes, which are integrated into the firm’s FALCON network. It will initially provide 50Gbps on each route to cater to existing market demand. ‘This is an extremely important strategic initiative that will facilitate the connectivity of all countries in the Middle East region to Iraq and also significantly improve the quality and speed as well as the reliability of Iraq’s connectivity to the rest of the world,’ Iraq’s Minister of Communications, Mohammed Allawi, was quoted as saying in the statement. Reliance Globalcom owns an undersea cable system spanning 65,000km, making it one of the world’s largest independent operators of submarine cables.

Source: TeleGeography.

Reliance hooks up Iraq to cable system (Iraq) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,8fa4430c-8c89-4d5f-b4de-8c9fd68331f4.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Reliance+Hooks+Up+Iraq+To+Cable+System+Iraq.aspx Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:50:06 GMT <p> Reliance Globalcom, the submarine cable subsidiary of Reliance Communications, has announced that it has connected Iraq to its <span class=caps>FALCON</span> cable network at the Al-Faw landing station, which was built in partnership with Iraqi Telecommunications and Post Company (ITPC). Reuters cites a company statement from the Indian firm as saying that the launch of the landing station will connect Iraq directly to countries in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America. Reliance Globalcom said the station has a design capacity of 680Gbps with two diverse routes, which are integrated into the firm’s <span class=caps>FALCON</span> network. It will initially provide 50Gbps on each route to cater to existing market demand. ‘This is an extremely important strategic initiative that will facilitate the connectivity of all countries in the Middle East region to Iraq and also significantly improve the quality and speed as well as the reliability of Iraq’s connectivity to the rest of the world,’ Iraq’s Minister of Communications, Mohammed Allawi, was quoted as saying in the statement. Reliance Globalcom owns an undersea cable system spanning 65,000km, making it one of the world’s largest independent operators of submarine cables. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/07/03/reliance-hooks-up-iraq-to-cable-system/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=8fa4430c-8c89-4d5f-b4de-8c9fd68331f4" /> Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=17096cca-d6f7-4f08-b3b3-53dfbef121e4 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,17096cca-d6f7-4f08-b3b3-53dfbef121e4.aspx

Togo Telecom has announced that it is doubling mobile internet bundles for customers using its HELIM NOMAD tariff plans, without increasing their monthly bills. The move follows the announcement that the telco hoped to reduce prices once the West Africa Cable System (WACS) lands in the country. As reported previously by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, on 11 June Togo Telecom confirmed that it had inaugurated WACS with the central landing of the fibre-optic cable in Afidegnigba. At the time, the telco said it hoped to usher in a ‘new era’ in telecommunications for the Togolese, offering more affordable broadband internet connectivity for the nation.

True to its word, the telco says that from now the cost of a 1GB package bundle will be XOF7,880 (USD15) – it used to cost USD30 per month for a 1GB bundle – a 2GB bundle will now be USD30 a month, and the premium 3GB offer on the same tariff will be USD45. Togo Telecom has however, increased the cost of its fixed line (ADSL) connections – branded HELIM FIXED – but ‘honoured its promise to reduce internet tariffs for mobile subscribers,’ it said.

Source: Telegeography

Togo Telecom slashes internet costs http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,17096cca-d6f7-4f08-b3b3-53dfbef121e4.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Togo+Telecom+Slashes+Internet+Costs.aspx Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:05:28 GMT <div class=article-text> <p> Togo Telecom has announced that it is doubling mobile internet bundles for customers using its <span class=caps>HELIM NOMAD</span> tariff plans, without increasing their monthly bills. The move follows the announcement that the telco hoped to reduce prices once the West Africa Cable System (WACS) lands in the country. As reported previously by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, on 11 June Togo Telecom confirmed that it had inaugurated <span class=caps>WACS</span> with the central landing of the fibre-optic cable in Afidegnigba. At the time, the telco said it hoped to usher in a ‘new era’ in telecommunications for the Togolese, offering more affordable broadband internet connectivity for the nation. </p> <p> True to its word, the telco says that from now the cost of a 1GB package bundle will be <span class=caps>XOF7</span>,880 (USD15) – it used to cost <span class=caps>USD30</span> per month for a 1GB bundle – a 2GB bundle will now be <span class=caps>USD30</span> a month, and the premium 3GB offer on the same tariff will be <span class=caps>USD45</span>. Togo Telecom has however, increased the cost of its fixed line (ADSL) connections – branded <span class=caps>HELIM FIXED</span> – but ‘honoured its promise to reduce internet tariffs for mobile subscribers,’ it said. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/06/14/togo-telecom-slashes-internet-costs/">Telegeography</a> </p> </div> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=17096cca-d6f7-4f08-b3b3-53dfbef121e4" /> Africa Bandwidth Broadband Tariffs http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=4678f1e7-9058-4931-b96e-ef9203079172 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,4678f1e7-9058-4931-b96e-ef9203079172.aspx

Pan-African telecoms service supplier Gateway Communications has announced that it has brought additional capacity from submarine cable SAT-3 to landlocked Botswana via South Africa, under its Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative. Customers can now access high speed, reliable connectivity, which will help to improve Botswana’s economic sectors, including mining, tourism and agriculture. Gateway has also revealed that more routes are being added to the networks already created in Zambia and Malawi during the initial phase of its terrestrial network initiative. A new path, utilising both SAT-3 and SEACOM connectivity, has been developed to provide Zambia with a fully redundant path through Zimbabwe. During the next few months Gateway will be extending its terrestrial network by deploying another link into Malawi through the eastern border town of Mulanji. Under the next step of the project, Gateway aims to bring additional capacity to Mauritius by connecting the island via SAFE to a neutral data centre facility in South Africa and then onward to Europe via EASSy and SAT-3. This will connect Mauritius to Africa and will allow the country to connect internationally using Gateway’s pan-African MPLS network and international peering stations in London, UK. ‘Through this innovative project, we will make sure that the benefits of high speed services are available to everyone using our pan-African network,’ commented Mike van den Bergh, CEO of Gateway Communications, adding: ‘This brings us closer to our goal of ensuring that every country in Africa has access to cost-effective and reliable capacity.’

Source: TeleGeography.

Gateway steps up terrestrial network initiative (Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,4678f1e7-9058-4931-b96e-ef9203079172.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Gateway+Steps+Up+Terrestrial+Network+Initiative+Botswana+Malawi+Mauritius+Zambia.aspx Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:01:12 GMT <p> Pan-African telecoms service supplier Gateway Communications has announced that it has brought additional capacity from submarine cable <span class=caps>SAT</span>-3 to landlocked Botswana via South Africa, under its Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative. Customers can now access high speed, reliable connectivity, which will help to improve Botswana’s economic sectors, including mining, tourism and agriculture. Gateway has also revealed that more routes are being added to the networks already created in Zambia and Malawi during the initial phase of its terrestrial network initiative. A new path, utilising both <span class=caps>SAT</span>-3 and <span class=caps>SEACOM</span> connectivity, has been developed to provide Zambia with a fully redundant path through Zimbabwe. During the next few months Gateway will be extending its terrestrial network by deploying another link into Malawi through the eastern border town of Mulanji. Under the next step of the project, Gateway aims to bring additional capacity to Mauritius by connecting the island via <span class=caps>SAFE</span> to a neutral data centre facility in South Africa and then onward to Europe via EASSy and <span class=caps>SAT</span>-3. This will connect Mauritius to Africa and will allow the country to connect internationally using Gateway’s pan-African <span class=caps>MPLS</span> network and international peering stations in London, UK. ‘Through this innovative project, we will make sure that the benefits of high speed services are available to everyone using our pan-African network,’ commented Mike van den Bergh, <span class=caps>CEO</span> of Gateway Communications, adding: ‘This brings us closer to our goal of ensuring that every country in Africa has access to cost-effective and reliable capacity.’ </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/05/16/gateway-steps-up-terrestrial-network-initiative/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=4678f1e7-9058-4931-b96e-ef9203079172" /> Africa Bandwidth Broadband http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=2e59ef2d-ae41-4362-acd4-d712a2de58db http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,2e59ef2d-ae41-4362-acd4-d712a2de58db.aspx

Middle Eastern carrier-neutral submarine fibre network operator Gulf Bridge International (GBI) and optical technology provider Xtera Communications have deployed what they claim to be the Mediterranean Sea’s first commercial 100Gbps repeatered submarine cable system on the GBI network connecting Egypt to Italy. Xtera provided its Nu-Wave Optima platform in a Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE) configuration delivering 100G waves on a fibre pair.

Elsewhere this week, GBI and Kuwaiti ISP/data services operator Gulfnet Communications announced the signing of a capacity sale agreement on the GBI undersea network, which offers routes from Europe to the Middle East and on to Asia. Also this week, Iraq’s Investment & Technology Group of Companies (via its ITC Communications division) signed a strategic alliance agreement with Hong Kong-based international carrier PCCW Global, following the Iraqi company winning a 15-year investment licence from Iraq Telecommunication & Post Company (ITPC) to market transmission capacity over the GBI fibre-optic cable connecting all Gulf coast countries. Fadil Mosawi, chairman of the Investment & Technology Group, said: ‘Together with the new GBI fibre cable, the Iraqi people will soon be able to connect to the rest of world with higher internet connection speed and enjoy new services including voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP), high definition TV, as well as a host of other business applications such as cloud computing. Video teleconferencing will make doing business with Iraq simpler and more efficient. Healthcare institutions and universities will also benefit from the availability of large bandwidth and higher access speeds.’ ITC Communications was previously licensed as a VSAT operator, providing international connectivity to Iraqis.

Source: TeleGeography.

Trio of GBI developments reported (Iraq, Kuwait) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,2e59ef2d-ae41-4362-acd4-d712a2de58db.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trio+Of+GBI+Developments+Reported+Iraq+Kuwait.aspx Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:28:12 GMT <p> Middle Eastern carrier-neutral submarine fibre network operator Gulf Bridge International (GBI) and optical technology provider Xtera Communications have deployed what they claim to be the Mediterranean Sea’s first commercial 100Gbps repeatered submarine cable system on the <span class=caps>GBI</span> network connecting Egypt to Italy. Xtera provided its Nu-Wave Optima platform in a Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE) configuration delivering 100G waves on a fibre pair. </p> <p> Elsewhere this week, <span class=caps>GBI</span> and Kuwaiti <span class=caps>ISP</span>/data services operator Gulfnet Communications announced the signing of a capacity sale agreement on the <span class=caps>GBI</span> undersea network, which offers routes from Europe to the Middle East and on to Asia. Also this week, Iraq’s Investment &amp; Technology Group of Companies (via its <span class=caps>ITC</span> Communications division) signed a strategic alliance agreement with Hong Kong-based international carrier <span class=caps>PCCW</span> Global, following the Iraqi company winning a 15-year investment licence from Iraq Telecommunication &amp; Post Company (ITPC) to market transmission capacity over the <span class=caps>GBI</span> fibre-optic cable connecting all Gulf coast countries. Fadil Mosawi, chairman of the Investment &amp; Technology Group, said: ‘Together with the new <span class=caps>GBI</span> fibre cable, the Iraqi people will soon be able to connect to the rest of world with higher internet connection speed and enjoy new services including voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP), high definition TV, as well as a host of other business applications such as cloud computing. Video teleconferencing will make doing business with Iraq simpler and more efficient. Healthcare institutions and universities will also benefit from the availability of large bandwidth and higher access speeds.’ <span class=caps>ITC</span> Communications was previously licensed as a <span class=caps>VSAT</span> operator, providing international connectivity to Iraqis. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/05/10/trio-of-gbi-developments-reported/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=2e59ef2d-ae41-4362-acd4-d712a2de58db" /> Bandwidth Broadband Investments http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=55aaf0e2-93f7-4a82-a7dc-6d01f29bc0bd http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,55aaf0e2-93f7-4a82-a7dc-6d01f29bc0bd.aspx

Mobile operators in USA have spoken out at an industry conference regarding the limited data capacity and its long term effect on the industry. According to a report by Total telecom, executives from Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA said the future of data use, such as streaming video and photos, is at risk if more airwaves, or spectrum, aren’t put to use.
 
Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Dan Mead, speaking at the CTIA conference in New Orleans, said the largest carrier will be maxed out in some markets as early as next year and most others by 2015. The carrier is seeking regulatory authority to buy $3.9 billion worth of spectrum from a group of cable companies. He said that they will put this spectrum to use quickly.
 
T-Mobile’s CEO Philipp Humm said that they require more spectrum, more technologies to manage capacity. The carrier had hoped to be bought by AT&T Inc. last year as part of a $39 billion bid that was ultimately stopped by regulators. Humm said average monthly data use on T-Mobile’s network has risen more than five-fold over the past two years.

Source: Wireless Federation.

Wireless carriers request for more data capacity (USA) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,55aaf0e2-93f7-4a82-a7dc-6d01f29bc0bd.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Wireless+Carriers+Request+For+More+Data+Capacity+USA.aspx Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:22:48 GMT <p> Mobile operators in USA have spoken out at an industry conference regarding the limited data capacity and its long term effect on the industry. According to a report by Total telecom, executives from Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA said the future of data use, such as streaming video and photos, is at risk if more airwaves, or spectrum, aren’t put to use.<br> &nbsp;<br> Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Dan Mead, speaking at the CTIA conference in New Orleans, said the largest carrier will be maxed out in some markets as early as next year and most others by 2015. The carrier is seeking regulatory authority to buy $3.9 billion worth of spectrum from a group of cable companies. He said that they will put this spectrum to use quickly.<br> &nbsp;<br> T-Mobile’s CEO Philipp Humm said that they require more spectrum, more technologies to manage capacity. The carrier had hoped to be bought by AT&amp;T Inc. last year as part of a $39 billion bid that was ultimately stopped by regulators. Humm said average monthly data use on T-Mobile’s network has risen more than five-fold over the past two years. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://wirelessfederation.com/news/93102-wireless-carriers-request-for-more-data-capacity-usa/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wirelessfederation+%28Wireless+Federation%29">Wireless Federation</a>.<br> </p> <p> </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=55aaf0e2-93f7-4a82-a7dc-6d01f29bc0bd" /> Bandwidth Broadband http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=b834254a-c161-4d94-a1d0-846161700d62 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,b834254a-c161-4d94-a1d0-846161700d62.aspx Liberia’s president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has opened the terminal in Monrovia that houses the country’s connection to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) undersea cable system, which connects 23 countries between France and South Africa. Liberia’s link to the 17,000km cable will be operational from October this year. ‘When this becomes operational Liberians will have easy access to information in the world and this will enable them to easily disseminate information to the outside world,’ President Sirleaf commented, according to a report from AFP.

Source: TeleGeography.

Liberia’s ACE link operational in October http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,b834254a-c161-4d94-a1d0-846161700d62.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Liberias+ACE+Link+Operational+In+October.aspx Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:11:35 GMT Liberia’s president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has opened the terminal in Monrovia that houses the country’s connection to the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) undersea cable system, which connects 23 countries between France and South Africa. Liberia’s link to the 17,000km cable will be operational from October this year. ‘When this becomes operational Liberians will have easy access to information in the world and this will enable them to easily disseminate information to the outside world,’ President Sirleaf commented, according to a report from <span class=caps>AFP</span>. <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/05/09/liberias-ace-link-operational-in-october/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=b834254a-c161-4d94-a1d0-846161700d62" /> Africa Bandwidth Broadband Infrastructure http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=82048220-696c-46a5-a5a7-7cd88c98a219 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,82048220-696c-46a5-a5a7-7cd88c98a219.aspx

Mobile operators in USA have spoken out at an industry conference regarding the limited data capacity and its long term effect on the industry. According to a report by Total telecom, executives from Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA said the future of data use, such as streaming video and photos, is at risk if more airwaves, or spectrum, aren’t put to use.
 
Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Dan Mead, speaking at the CTIA conference in New Orleans, said the largest carrier will be maxed out in some markets as early as next year and most others by 2015. The carrier is seeking regulatory authority to buy $3.9 billion worth of spectrum from a group of cable companies. He said that they will put this spectrum to use quickly.
 
T-Mobile’s CEO Philipp Humm said that they require more spectrum, more technologies to manage capacity. The carrier had hoped to be bought by AT&T Inc. last year as part of a $39 billion bid that was ultimately stopped by regulators. Humm said average monthly data use on T-Mobile’s network has risen more than five-fold over the past two years.

Source: Wireless Federation.

Wireless carriers request for more data capacity (USA) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,82048220-696c-46a5-a5a7-7cd88c98a219.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Wireless+Carriers+Request+For+More+Data+Capacity+USA.aspx Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:54:41 GMT <p> Mobile operators in USA have spoken out at an industry conference regarding the limited data capacity and its long term effect on the industry. According to a report by Total telecom, executives from Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA said the future of data use, such as streaming video and photos, is at risk if more airwaves, or spectrum, aren’t put to use.<br> &nbsp;<br> Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Dan Mead, speaking at the CTIA conference in New Orleans, said the largest carrier will be maxed out in some markets as early as next year and most others by 2015. The carrier is seeking regulatory authority to buy $3.9 billion worth of spectrum from a group of cable companies. He said that they will put this spectrum to use quickly.<br> &nbsp;<br> T-Mobile’s CEO Philipp Humm said that they require more spectrum, more technologies to manage capacity. The carrier had hoped to be bought by AT&amp;T Inc. last year as part of a $39 billion bid that was ultimately stopped by regulators. Humm said average monthly data use on T-Mobile’s network has risen more than five-fold over the past two years. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://wirelessfederation.com/news/93102-wireless-carriers-request-for-more-data-capacity-usa/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wirelessfederation+%28Wireless+Federation%29">Wireless Federation</a>. </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=82048220-696c-46a5-a5a7-7cd88c98a219" /> Bandwidth Broadband http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=50805a98-31ed-4a77-913d-09af5769f372 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,50805a98-31ed-4a77-913d-09af5769f372.aspx

Construction of the Azerbaijani segment of a new fibre-optic international gateway system, which links Oman to Frankfurt in Germany via Russia and Iran, is nearing completion, Trend News Agency reports, citing Delta Telecom’s technical director Raed Alekberli. A test run of the Europe Persia Express Gateway (EPEG) is expected in the near future, Alekberli said. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, four international telecommunications companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March 2011 to develop the EPEG cable system, namely: Oman’s incumbent fixed line operator Omantel, Iran-based Telecommunications Infrastructure Company (TIC), UK-based Cable & Wireless Worldwide and Russian carrier Rostelecom. The 6,000km cable system is expected to be ready for service in May 2012, helping to accommodate the increasing traffic from the MENA region, Central Asia, Russia and Europe, providing an alternative route to the Red Sea Systems.

Source: TeleGeography.

Azerbaijan segment of EPEG close to completion http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,50805a98-31ed-4a77-913d-09af5769f372.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Azerbaijan+Segment+Of+EPEG+Close+To+Completion.aspx Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:08:14 GMT <div class=article-text> <p> Construction of the Azerbaijani segment of a new fibre-optic international gateway system, which links Oman to Frankfurt in Germany via Russia and Iran, is nearing completion, Trend News Agency reports, citing Delta Telecom’s technical director Raed Alekberli. A test run of the Europe Persia Express Gateway (EPEG) is expected in the near future, Alekberli said. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, four international telecommunications companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March 2011 to develop the <span class=caps>EPEG</span> cable system, namely: Oman’s incumbent fixed line operator Omantel, Iran-based Telecommunications Infrastructure Company (TIC), UK-based Cable &amp; Wireless Worldwide and Russian carrier Rostelecom. The 6,000km cable system is expected to be ready for service in May 2012, helping to accommodate the increasing traffic from the <span class=caps>MENA</span> region, Central Asia, Russia and Europe, providing an alternative route to the Red Sea Systems. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/03/08/azerbaijan-segment-of-epeg-close-to-completion/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> </div> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=50805a98-31ed-4a77-913d-09af5769f372" /> Bandwidth Internet http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=c6de0ec9-e060-46c6-a841-202baff9a6ec http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,c6de0ec9-e060-46c6-a841-202baff9a6ec.aspx

Morocco’s Maroc Telecom, part of France’s Vivendi Universal group, has started deployment of an international high speed fibre-optic submarine cable between Morocco and Spain, named ‘Loukkos’, which is scheduled to be ready for service in March this year. Moroccan newspaper Le Matin reports that the telco’s self-funded MAD143 million (USD16 million) cable linking Asilah in Morocco with Rota, Spain, is being supplied by Alcatel-Lucent unit Alcatel Submarine Networks and CanaLink. The 187km cable will have an initial capacity of 80Gbps, upgradeable to 1.28Tbps, and is designed to add diversity and redundancy to Maroc Telecom’s international traffic routes as well as cope with increasing demand from broadband service users and the trend for international offshoring activities, particularly call centres.

TeleGeography notes that Maroc Telecom part-owns the existing Spain-Morocco undersea fibre-optic cable Estepona-Tetouan, while the telco wholly owns the Atlas Offshore submarine cable linking Asilah in Morocco with Marseille, France, which was completed in April 2007 under a MAD300 million contract with Alcatel-Lucent. The partly state-owned operator also provides landing stations for the SEA-ME-WE-3 consortium cable and the legacy Eurafrica (Morocco-Portugal-France) system. It is also currently engaged in a project to link its African subsidiaries with a land-based international cable system to span Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Gabon, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Source: TeleGeography.

Maroc Telecom begins Morocco-Spain cable laying http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,c6de0ec9-e060-46c6-a841-202baff9a6ec.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Maroc+Telecom+Begins+MoroccoSpain+Cable+Laying.aspx Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:31:06 GMT <div class=article-text> <p> Morocco’s Maroc Telecom, part of France’s Vivendi Universal group, has started deployment of an international high speed fibre-optic submarine cable between Morocco and Spain, named ‘Loukkos’, which is scheduled to be ready for service in March this year. Moroccan newspaper Le Matin reports that the telco’s self-funded <span class=caps>MAD143</span> million (USD16 million) cable linking Asilah in Morocco with Rota, Spain, is being supplied by Alcatel-Lucent unit Alcatel Submarine Networks and CanaLink. The 187km cable will have an initial capacity of 80Gbps, upgradeable to 1.28Tbps, and is designed to add diversity and redundancy to Maroc Telecom’s international traffic routes as well as cope with increasing demand from broadband service users and the trend for international offshoring activities, particularly call centres. </p> <p> TeleGeography notes that Maroc Telecom part-owns the existing Spain-Morocco undersea fibre-optic cable Estepona-Tetouan, while the telco wholly owns the Atlas Offshore submarine cable linking Asilah in Morocco with Marseille, France, which was completed in April 2007 under a <span class=caps>MAD300</span> million contract with Alcatel-Lucent. The partly state-owned operator also provides landing stations for the <span class=caps>SEA</span>-ME-WE-3 consortium cable and the legacy Eurafrica (Morocco-Portugal-France) system. It is also currently engaged in a project to link its African subsidiaries with a land-based international cable system to span Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Gabon, Mali and Burkina Faso. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/01/10/maroc-telecom-begins-morocco-spain-cable-laying/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> </div> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=c6de0ec9-e060-46c6-a841-202baff9a6ec" /> Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=222eee40-0f3b-4d2b-8dbb-140e6d621d24 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,222eee40-0f3b-4d2b-8dbb-140e6d621d24.aspx

MTN Swaziland has admitted that users of its long-delayed 3G network are experiencing problems with the service due to a lack of bandwidth. Corporate affairs manager Mpumelelo Makhubu told the Times of Swaziland that the South African-owned cellco has applied for additional spectrum from the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC), but has yet to receive a response from the regulator. Although Makhubu declined to elaborate on the precise details of the technical issues, the newspaper claims that the ‘network is still sluggish because there is an acute shortage of bandwidth’.

As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, MTN’s 3G network finally launched in October 2011, following a lengthy war of words between the cellco and the SPTC, which saw the latter accuse MTN of making unreasonable demands regarding 3G exclusivity. During the launch event, chief marketing officer Phillip Besiimire confirmed that the cellco had invested nearly SZL300 million (USD37.2 million) on the network, of which SZL37 million went on the long-denied 3G licence. Besiimire added that the company is also obliged to pay the SPTC a percentage of its profits as part of the agreement.

Source: TeleGeography.

Lack of bandwidth causes problems for MTN 3G network http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,222eee40-0f3b-4d2b-8dbb-140e6d621d24.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Lack+Of+Bandwidth+Causes+Problems+For+MTN+3G+Network.aspx Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:30:07 GMT <div class=article-text> <p> <span class=caps>MTN</span> Swaziland has admitted that users of its long-delayed 3G network are experiencing problems with the service due to a lack of bandwidth. Corporate affairs manager Mpumelelo Makhubu told the Times of Swaziland that the South African-owned cellco has applied for additional spectrum from the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC), but has yet to receive a response from the regulator. Although Makhubu declined to elaborate on the precise details of the technical issues, the newspaper claims that the ‘network is still sluggish because there is an acute shortage of bandwidth’. </p> <p> As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, <span class=caps>MTN</span>’s 3G network finally launched in October 2011, following a lengthy war of words between the cellco and the <span class=caps>SPTC</span>, which saw the latter accuse <span class=caps>MTN</span> of making unreasonable demands regarding 3G exclusivity. During the launch event, chief marketing officer Phillip Besiimire confirmed that the cellco had invested nearly <span class=caps>SZL300</span> million (USD37.2 million) on the network, of which <span class=caps>SZL37</span> million went on the long-denied 3G licence. Besiimire added that the company is also obliged to pay the <span class=caps>SPTC</span> a percentage of its profits as part of the agreement. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2012/01/10/lack-of-bandwidth-causes-problems-for-mtn-3g-network/">TeleGeography</a>. </p> </div> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=222eee40-0f3b-4d2b-8dbb-140e6d621d24" /> Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=85324853-bdb8-4137-8261-d72b947700dd http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,85324853-bdb8-4137-8261-d72b947700dd.aspx

Middle East submarine cable operator Gulf Bridge International (GBI) has announced the landing of its international fibre-optic GBI system in Qatar. Vodafone Qatar has set up a cable landing station north of Doha to link the country to the new high-capacity undersea network, which will add voice/data capacity and redundancy between all Gulf states and provide onward connectivity to Europe, Africa and Asia.

Source: TeleGeography

GBI cable lands in Qatar http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,85324853-bdb8-4137-8261-d72b947700dd.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/GBI+Cable+Lands+In+Qatar.aspx Wed, 30 Mar 2011 06:18:53 GMT <p> Middle East submarine cable operator Gulf Bridge International (GBI) has announced the landing of its international fibre-optic GBI system in Qatar. Vodafone Qatar has set up a cable landing station north of Doha to link the country to the new high-capacity undersea network, which will add voice/data capacity and redundancy between all Gulf states and provide onward connectivity to Europe, Africa and Asia. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=36519&amp;email=html">TeleGeography</a> </p> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --><img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=85324853-bdb8-4137-8261-d72b947700dd" /> Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=1c414353-091f-4236-b176-e527107bc44d http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,1c414353-091f-4236-b176-e527107bc44d.aspx

For a decade, West Africa's main connection to the Internet has been a single fiber-optic cable in the Atlantic, a tenuous and expensive link for one of the poorest areas of the planet.

But this summer, a second cable snaked along the West African coastline, ending at Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos. It has more than five times the capacity of the old one and is set to bring competition to a market where wholesale Internet access costs nearly 500 times as much as it does in the U.S.

It's the first of a new wave of investment that the U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union says will vastly raise the bandwidth available in West Africa by mid-2012.

Click here to see full article
Source: Cellular News
New cables tie West Africa closer to Internet http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,1c414353-091f-4236-b176-e527107bc44d.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/New+Cables+Tie+West+Africa+Closer+To+Internet.aspx Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:33:12 GMT <p> For a decade, West Africa's main connection to the Internet has been a single fiber-optic cable in the Atlantic, a tenuous and expensive link for one of the poorest areas of the planet. </p> <p> But this summer, a second cable snaked along the West African coastline, ending at <span about="[_:nigeria]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Country">Nigeria</span>'s commercial capital, <span about="[_:lagos]" property="v:name" typeof="v:City">Lagos</span>. It has more than five times the capacity of the old one and is set to bring competition to a market where wholesale Internet access costs nearly 500 times as much as it does in the <span about="[_:united_states]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Country">U.S.</span> </p> <p> It's the first of a new wave of investment that the <span about="[_:united_nations]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Organization">U.N.</span>'s <span about="[_:international_telecommunication_union]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Organization">International Telecommunications Union</span> says will vastly raise the bandwidth available in West Africa by mid-2012. </p> <div onclick="Table7.style.display='block'"><font color=#808080 size=2>Click here&nbsp;to see full article</font>> </div> <table id=Table7 style="DISPLAY: none" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p align=left> <font color=#000000 size=2> <p> "<span about="[_:africa]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Continent">Africa</span> is sort of the last frontier here," said <span about="[_:paul_brodsky]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Person">Paul Brodsky</span>, an analyst at the research firm TeleGeography in <span about="[_:washington,_dc]" property="v:name" typeof="v:City">Washington</span>. </p> <p> The effects are already being felt in <span about="[_:ghana]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Country">Ghana</span>. <span about="[_:kofi_datsa]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Person">Kofi Datsa</span>, general manager of Internet service provider DiscoveryTel Ghana, said it has seen the monthly cost of the access it buys from larger telecommunications carriers drop more than a quarter to $1,625 per megabit per second, from $2,250, in recent months. The carriers, fearing they could lose customers, have started cutting prices ahead of the new cables landing in the country. </p> <p> Datsa expects his bandwidth costs to drop further in a couple of months, to $350 per megabit per second. By the end of 2011, when two other cables will have gone live, that could go as low as $225, he believes. </p> <p> But that's still high. In the U.S. and <span about="[_:europe]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Continent">Europe</span>, wholesale Internet connections cost $5 to $10 per megabit per month in major cities, according to research firm TeleGeography. </p> <p> It's not clear exactly when the cheaper prices will trickle down to the consumer level, but Datsa expects that to happen fairly quickly, as there's plenty of competition, with 25 registered ISPs in the country. </p> <p> According to the <span about="[_:ghana_internet_service_providers_association]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Organization">Ghana Internet Service Providers Association</span>, a typical DSL package costs $32 a month, about two-thirds of the average monthly income in the country. It's far slower than DSL service in the U.S., which costs about the same. </p> <p> The ITU found that 32 million sub-Saharan Africans, or 3 percent, had Internet access in 2008 — the latest figure available. But that number was growing at almost twice the world average rate. </p> <p> "Internet growth in Africa has been phenomenal and has not shown any signs of being diminished by the worldwide slump in the economy," said Prince Radebe of <span about="[_:south_africa]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Country">South Africa</span>'s <span about="[_:telkom_sa_ltd.]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Company">Telkom SA</span>, which has a stake in the older cable. "The investment in international submarine cables will further unlock this growth." </p> <p> Even with added international communications capacity, Africa still faces another problem: In many places, it doesn't have the fiber cables necessary to carry the signal from the shores inland, said Abiodun Jagun, a lecturer at <span about="[_:university_of_the_witwatersrand]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Organization">South Africa's University of Witwatersrand</span>. </p> <p> And in the countries where there is an expansive network of terrestrial fiber optic cables, such pipes are controlled by telecommunications operators that close them to rivals or charge a hefty premium for Internet traffic. </p> <p> "There is this mentality, this monopolistic mentality that is hardwired into telecom operators," Jagun said. </p> <p> Cell phones can help bring Internet access into the hands of consumers, but even wireless networks are dependent on long-haul fiber-optic cables, as the signal travels over the air only for a few miles. </p> <p> The old cable connecting West Africa to the world, called <span about="[_:south_atlantic_telecommunications]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Company">South Atlantic Telecommunications</span> Cable Number 3/West African Submarine Cable, or SAT-3, is controlled by incumbent telecom operators. </p> <p> The new $250-million MainOne cable is owned by a consortium of Nigerian banks and financial institutions, South African investors and other African entrepreneurs, none of whom are telecommunications operators. The cable, which has a maximum capacity of 1.92 terabits per second, went live in Ghana and Nigeria last month and has several branching points along the West African coastline ready to connect six other countries. </p> <p> The other cables in the works are Glo 1, which is owned by Nigerian mobile phone service provider, <span about="[_:globacom_ltd.]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Company">Globacom Ltd.</span> It will connect Nigeria and its neighbor Ghana with Europe and is expected to go live this year. South Africa-based mobile phone company, <span about="[_:mtn_group_ltd.]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Company">MTN Group</span>, is leading another project called West Africa Cable System, which is scheduled to be completed next year. <span about="[_:france_telecom_sa]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Company">France Telecom</span> is leading another consortium, Africa Coast to Europe, whose cable should be completed mid-2012. And on the eastern Africa coast, it is leading a separate submarine cable project — LION 2. </p> <p> Apart from extra capacity, the new cables will bring much-needed reliability to communications in Africa. Undersea cables are prone to being damaged by fishermen and earthquakes and take weeks to repair. When SAT-3 broke last summer, it took several countries completely offline for a while, and Nigeria lost 70 percent of its international capacity as it fell back on satellite connections, which are slower and even more expensive than SAT-3. </p> <p> With multiple cables, French-speaking <span about="[_:senegal]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Country">Senegal</span> may be able to expand its outsourced call centers, and English-speaking Ghana would have a better chance of implementing its plan to get into that business. </p> <p> <span about="[_:joseph_mucheru]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Person">Joseph Mucheru</span>, <span about="[_:google_inc.]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Company">Google Inc.</span>'s regional lead for <span about="[_:sub-saharan_africa]" property="v:name" typeof="v:Region">sub-Saharan Africa</span>, sees great opportunities for West Africa with improved communications, despite the problem of finding enough skilled workers, the lack of security and other challenges. </p> <p> "I would, however, say all this is outweighed by the opportunities West Africa presents," Mucheru said. "A vibrant, youthful population and thirst for growth and great technology adaptation." </p> </font> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Source: <a href="http://www.cellular-news.com/story/45099.php?s=h">Cellular News </a> <div> </div> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=1c414353-091f-4236-b176-e527107bc44d" /> Africa Bandwidth Infrastructure Tariffs http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=b7749493-b232-40cd-b055-a5cee37b3d2d http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,b7749493-b232-40cd-b055-a5cee37b3d2d.aspx

Cable & Wireless Communications (C&W) has revealed plans to roll out a new Caribbean submarine cable, in the process more than doubling its carrier capacity in the region. It is understood the new cable, dubbed the ‘East-West’ link, will connect Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the west of the Caribbean, to the British Virgin Islands (Tortola) in the east. The East-West cable will also land in the Dominican Republic, one of the operator’s key markets in the region. C&W’s mobile operations in the Caribbean, which are offered under the banner LIME, have already commenced work on deploying the cable which is expected to be operational by early 2011. The new cable is the third such submarine link constructed by Cable & Wireless Communications in the region since 2008, adding to the CBUS cable between Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands and the Gemini-Bermuda cable between Bermuda and the east coast of the US.

Source: TeleGeography

C&W to build major new Caribbean submarine cable (Jamaica & Dominican Republic) http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,b7749493-b232-40cd-b055-a5cee37b3d2d.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/CW+To+Build+Major+New+Caribbean+Submarine+Cable+Jamaica+Dominican+Republic.aspx Wed, 26 May 2010 15:04:58 GMT <p> Cable &amp; Wireless Communications (C&amp;W) has revealed plans to roll out a new Caribbean submarine cable, in the process more than doubling its carrier capacity in the region. It is understood the new cable, dubbed the ‘East-West’ link, will connect Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the west of the Caribbean, to the British Virgin Islands (Tortola) in the east. The East-West cable will also land in the Dominican Republic, one of the operator’s key markets in the region. C&amp;W’s mobile operations in the Caribbean, which are offered under the banner LIME, have already commenced work on deploying the cable which is expected to be operational by early 2011. The new cable is the third such submarine link constructed by Cable &amp; Wireless Communications in the region since 2008, adding to the CBUS cable between Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands and the Gemini-Bermuda cable between Bermuda and the east coast of the US. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=33208&amp;email=html">TeleGeography</a> </p> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --><img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=b7749493-b232-40cd-b055-a5cee37b3d2d" /> Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=3a8d57d1-6046-4086-ad32-16c5d47cae4f http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,3a8d57d1-6046-4086-ad32-16c5d47cae4f.aspx

 

New data from TeleGeography’s Global Bandwidth Research Service show that international network operators have weathered the recession surprisingly well. International bandwidth usage increased 60% in 2009, in line with the past two years, and well ahead of the trend of 2002-2006. Growth has been particularly rapid in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. However, capacity requirements to seemingly mature markets, such as Europe and the US, have also grown at a compounded annual rate of more than 50% since 2002.

Over the past seven years, aggregate international capacity requirements have grown more than 22-fold. Providers have kept pace with high demand by rapidly upgrading their fibre-optic networks with additional wavelengths. Nearly 90% of US terrestrial network operators surveyed by TeleGeography plan on lighting extra wavelengths in 2010, and just under 70% of European carriers plan on doing so.

The scope to expand submarine cable capacity is far more limited than that of terrestrial networks. High demand has combined with a relative scarcity of bandwidth to drive technological innovation, according to TeleGeography analyst Tim Stronge. 'Some undersea cable operators have managed to install far more wavelengths on existing cables than thought possible even just a few years ago,' noted Stronge. 'Providers are also exploring ways to squeeze additional capacity out of their cables by replacing 10Gbps wavelengths with 40Gbps wavelengths.'

Growing capacity requirements, combined with carriers’ desire for improved route diversity, have also spurred a boom in submarine cable construction. 17 new cables were built in 2009, and investment in submarine cable construction in 2010 is projected to top last year’s levels.

Source: TeleGeography

Recession? What recession? http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,3a8d57d1-6046-4086-ad32-16c5d47cae4f.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Recession+What+Recession.aspx Mon, 03 May 2010 13:06:08 GMT <p> <img src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/content/binary/20100503-11.gif" border=0> </p> <p> &nbsp; </p> <p> New data from TeleGeography’s Global Bandwidth Research Service show that international network operators have weathered the recession surprisingly well. International bandwidth usage increased 60% in 2009, in line with the past two years, and well ahead of the trend of 2002-2006. Growth has been particularly rapid in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. However, capacity requirements to seemingly mature markets, such as Europe and the US, have also grown at a compounded annual rate of more than 50% since 2002.<br> <br> Over the past seven years, aggregate international capacity requirements have grown more than 22-fold. Providers have kept pace with high demand by rapidly upgrading their fibre-optic networks with additional wavelengths. Nearly 90% of US terrestrial network operators surveyed by TeleGeography plan on lighting extra wavelengths in 2010, and just under 70% of European carriers plan on doing so.<br> <br> The scope to expand submarine cable capacity is far more limited than that of terrestrial networks. High demand has combined with a relative scarcity of bandwidth to drive technological innovation, according to TeleGeography analyst Tim Stronge. 'Some undersea cable operators have managed to install far more wavelengths on existing cables than thought possible even just a few years ago,' noted Stronge. 'Providers are also exploring ways to squeeze additional capacity out of their cables by replacing 10Gbps wavelengths with 40Gbps wavelengths.'<br> <br> Growing capacity requirements, combined with carriers’ desire for improved route diversity, have also spurred a boom in submarine cable construction. 17 new cables were built in 2009, and investment in submarine cable construction in 2010 is projected to top last year’s levels. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=32957&amp;email=html">TeleGeography<br> </a> </p> <img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=3a8d57d1-6046-4086-ad32-16c5d47cae4f" /> Bandwidth Infrastructure http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=324983f5-ebff-4881-af18-6c8ebc0375a6 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,324983f5-ebff-4881-af18-6c8ebc0375a6.aspx

Construction of the East Africa Submarine System (EASSy) international fibre-optic cable was completed ahead of schedule on Monday night, reports South African website Techcentral, quoting EASSy’s largest shareholder West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC). WIOCC stated: ‘The installation phase of the project, which started in Maputo, Mozambique in December 2009, was completed on board the cable-laying vessel Ile de Batz in the Indian Ocean, just off the east African coast ... Now that this critical stage of the project has been completed successfully and ahead of time, we will start system testing almost immediately ... Once this is finalised, we are looking forward to connecting our first customers to the network from July 2010. EASSy is the second high-capacity undersea system to connect the east African region, following the deployment in 2009 of the Seacom cable. WIOCC chief technology officer Ryan Sher set out how the new cable aimed to differentiate its services: ‘A key difference between EASSy and other sub-Saharan systems is that our system will deliver connectivity to Europe via a direct route through the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea ... minimising the time taken for traffic from Africa to reach the key internet peering points in Europe and North America ... With the vast majority of international traffic being internet-based, and with most African traffic destined for Europe and the US where the most popular content and applications are located.’

Shareholders in WIOCC include Botswana Telecommunications Corp, TelOne of Zimbabwe, Libyan Post, Telecom & IT Company, Dalkom Somalia, Djibouti Telecom, Gilat Satcom Nigeria, the Seychelles government,Lesotho Telecommunications Authority, Onatel Burundi, Telkom Kenya, TDM Mozambique, U-Com Burundi, Uganda Telecom and Zantel Tanzania. Capacity on EASSy will be available in increments from as little as 2Mbps up to multiple gigabit/s wavelengths.

Source: TeleGeography

EASSy cable deployment is complete, customer connections expected in July http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,324983f5-ebff-4881-af18-6c8ebc0375a6.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/EASSy+Cable+Deployment+Is+Complete+Customer+Connections+Expected+In+July.aspx Mon, 03 May 2010 12:53:47 GMT <p> Construction of the East Africa Submarine System (EASSy) international fibre-optic cable was completed ahead of schedule on Monday night, reports South African website Techcentral, quoting EASSy’s largest shareholder West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC). WIOCC stated: ‘The installation phase of the project, which started in Maputo, Mozambique in December 2009, was completed on board the cable-laying vessel Ile de Batz in the Indian Ocean, just off the east African coast ... Now that this critical stage of the project has been completed successfully and ahead of time, we will start system testing almost immediately ... Once this is finalised, we are looking forward to connecting our first customers to the network from July 2010. EASSy is the second high-capacity undersea system to connect the east African region, following the deployment in 2009 of the Seacom cable. WIOCC chief technology officer Ryan Sher set out how the new cable aimed to differentiate its services: ‘A key difference between EASSy and other sub-Saharan systems is that our system will deliver connectivity to Europe via a direct route through the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea ... minimising the time taken for traffic from Africa to reach the key internet peering points in Europe and North America ... With the vast majority of international traffic being internet-based, and with most African traffic destined for Europe and the US where the most popular content and applications are located.’ <br> <br> Shareholders in WIOCC include Botswana Telecommunications Corp, TelOne of Zimbabwe, Libyan Post, Telecom &amp; IT Company, Dalkom Somalia, Djibouti Telecom, Gilat Satcom Nigeria, the Seychelles government,Lesotho Telecommunications Authority, Onatel Burundi, Telkom Kenya, TDM Mozambique, U-Com Burundi, Uganda Telecom and Zantel Tanzania. Capacity on EASSy will be available in increments from as little as 2Mbps up to multiple gigabit/s wavelengths. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=32880&amp;email=html">TeleGeography</a> </p> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --><img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=324983f5-ebff-4881-af18-6c8ebc0375a6" /> Bandwidth http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Trackback.aspx?guid=5edefccb-139e-4f97-a8c6-b5b3e270e9c8 http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/pingback.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,5edefccb-139e-4f97-a8c6-b5b3e270e9c8.aspx

Togo Telecom has contracted Xtera Communications, a global provider of optical and IP networking solutions, to deploy a high capacity fibre-optic network across Togo. Phase I of the work was completed in January 2010. When completed, the deployment will migrate the current Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) long-distance domestic network to a new optical layer relying on advanced broadband optical amplification technology for higher capacity, providing enhanced network resilience and availability. The new network will also create a high-capacity, reliable backhaul system, connecting landlocked countries in the west sub-Saharan area to international submarine cable systems via Togo Telecom's cable landing station, which is part of the West African Cable System (WACS).

‘Togo Telecom's advanced nationwide optical network combined with the WACS infrastructure will offer landlocked countries in the sub-region and Togo access to the rest of the world,’ said Sam Bikassam, general manager of Togo Telecom. 'This will free landlocked countries from the exclusive use of microwave radio systems and satellite connectivity for international communications, enabling them to offer more reliable, higher capacity broadband services to their residential and business customers’ he added.

Source: TeleGeography

Togo Telecom selects Xtera for high capacity fibre-optic network http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/PermaLink,guid,5edefccb-139e-4f97-a8c6-b5b3e270e9c8.aspx http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/Togo+Telecom+Selects+Xtera+For+High+Capacity+Fibreoptic+Network.aspx Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:06:36 GMT <p> Togo Telecom has contracted Xtera Communications, a global provider of optical and IP networking solutions, to deploy a high capacity fibre-optic network across Togo. Phase I of the work was completed in January 2010. When completed, the deployment will migrate the current Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) long-distance domestic network to a new optical layer relying on advanced broadband optical amplification technology for higher capacity, providing enhanced network resilience and availability. The new network will also create a high-capacity, reliable backhaul system, connecting landlocked countries in the west sub-Saharan area to international submarine cable systems via Togo Telecom's cable landing station, which is part of the West African Cable System (WACS).<br> <br> ‘Togo Telecom's advanced nationwide optical network combined with the WACS infrastructure will offer landlocked countries in the sub-region and Togo access to the rest of the world,’ said Sam Bikassam, general manager of Togo Telecom. 'This will free landlocked countries from the exclusive use of microwave radio systems and satellite connectivity for international communications, enabling them to offer more reliable, higher capacity broadband services to their residential and business customers’ he added. </p> <p> Source: <a href="http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=32250&amp;email=html">TeleGeography<br> </a> </p> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --><img width="0" height="0" src="http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/newslog/aggbug.ashx?id=5edefccb-139e-4f97-a8c6-b5b3e270e9c8" /> Bandwidth