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Evolving the National and Global
Landscape Of Broadband In Swaziland
SAFNOG Conference 2015
Royal Swazi Sun Hotel
7th – 8th April 2015
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Outline
1) Broadband Services
2) Challenges
3) Key Initiatives
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Definition of Broadband
According to the Wikipedia encyclopedia:
• In telecommunications, broadband is wide
bandwidth data transmission with an ability to
simultaneously transport multiple signals and
traffic types. The medium can be coaxial cable,
optical fiber, twisted pair, or wireless broadband
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband
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Broadband Speeds
• In the United States, the FCC reflecting advances
in technology, market offerings by broadband
providers and consumer demand, updated its
broadband benchmark speeds to 25 megabits
per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps
for uploads.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband
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Broadband Speeds
Most African countries are nowhere near this
benchmark but this differs country by country.
Swaziland has no official benchmark with respect
to broadband speeds but the recently established
telecommunications industry regulator SCCOM in
their draft regulations advocate for broadband
speeds of no less than 2Mbps for both wireline
and wireless technologies.
Source: The Electronic Communications (Quality of Service) Regulations, 2014 (Draft)
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What is Broadband
The answer to the question is usually dependent
on who is answering it:
Industry Regulators
Network Operators
Customers
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Challenges with meeting the
Customers’ Expectations
Different components of the connection chain
Access Network
• State of the infrastructure
• Terrain of the country-restriction to wireline
• Remote and scattered communities
Core Network
• Capacity and Traffic routing
• Reliability, redundancy and monitoring
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Challenges with meeting the
Customers’ Expectations
Different components of the connection chain
National Backbone
• Alternate routes & availability
• Exposed infrastructure
International Connectivity
• Cost to access wet capacity & its actual cost
• Access to West & East coast cables
• Prioritisation & routing of traffic by operators
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Initiatives being undertaken by SPTC
to Improve Broadband Access
Different components of the connection chain
Access Network
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Taking the fibre closer to the Customer – FTTx
Extensive Copper Network Rehabilitation
Deploy IP DSLAM’s for faster rollout
SIP functionality for voice traffic
Infrastructure sharing to access remote
customers
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Initiatives being undertaken by
SPTC to Improve Broadband Access
Different components of the connection chain
Core Network
• Sufficient capacity to handle traffic offered
• Availability, reliability & redundancy of network
elements
• Optimal and efficient traffic routing
• NOC moving to SOC – 24 x 7 x 365
• Involved in the establishment of IXP for peering
of local partners (ISP’s, CP’s, banks etc.)
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Initiatives being undertaken by SPTC
Different components of the connection chain
National Backbone
• Self healing rings to ensure alternate routes &
guarantee availability
• Infrastructure exposed to the elements – bury
the fibre and use microwave for redundancy
• Provision of optic fibre connectivity to the IXP
• Partnerships with Power utility provider (MoU
signed)
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Initiatives being undertaken by SPTC
Different components of the connection chain
International Connectivity
• Multiple exit/entry points for redundancy
• Reduce costs to wet and dry capacity
• Collaboration between SATA and SAPP on
infrastructure sharing
• Extend backbone network beyond borders to
access other IXP’s and RIXP’s
• Access to West & East coast cables for redundancy
to ensure availability
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“Thank You”
“Siyabonga”
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