1. Zambia Research and Education Network (Creation of an NREN in Zambia) Bonny Khunga. CEO ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

2. OVERVIEW ZAMREN ZAMREN Objectives Institutional Assessments
Institutional Requirements
Regional and International Initiatives
NICHE Project Support
ZAMREN Ambition Level
Concluding Remarks
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

3. Objectives of ZAMREN ZAMREN
Secure broadband connectivity, to the dedicated global research and education network for members institutions
Provide the inter-institutional connectivity in terms of a National Research and Education Network (NREN), and to connect it to the Regional Research and Education Network (RREN) in Eastern and Southern Africa, UbuntuNet, thereby extending ZAMREN to other NRENs in Africa and in the rest of the World.
Provide advanced ICT services to ZAMREN member institutions to enable them optimise the use of academic and research resources through available ICT resources.
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

4. Member Institutional Assessments
Poor access to the Internet due to restrictive bandwidth
Perception of ICT services is low, from academic staff and students.
Available ICT infrastructure is all localized to an institution due to lack of inter-institutional connectivity
Inadequate human capacity to support and manage ICT infrastructure as well as create tangible value from investment on ICTs.
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

5. Institutional Requirements
ICT Policy Plans which are supported by all stake holders in the institution.
ICT infrastructure that can enable delivery and support of ICT services within the institutions.
Faster access to the Internet
Adequate human capacity to support and manage ICT infrastructure and services as well as create tangible value from investment on ICTs.
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

6. ZAMREN
7/6/2018

7. Implementation Challenges
Organizational: –
Developing a sustainable business model for ZAMREN.
Readiness level assessment of member institutions
Requirements for institutions to connect to ZAMREN grid.
Technical : - Setting up of NOC, equipment selection, support staff and contracts.
Cost of Connectivity:
Local Traffic Transit Costs: – management of the ZESCO optic fibre infrastructure has been surrendered to LAPGREEN (a private Telco) creating uncertainty on cost of transit of local traffic.
Cross-boarder or cross-NREN:- Zambia being land-locked, transit of cross-boarder traffic is a major factor in costing.
Support of Other Services:-Capacity building to enable Support an delivery of other services to member institutions.
Last-Mile Connectivity:- Most member institutions are yet to be connected to national optic fibre backbone.
ICT Resources – Limited capacities at member institutions
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

8. Regional & Global Initiatives on African NRENs
UbuntuNet Alliance (UA) is an association of NRENs in Africa. UA exists to provide regional and international connectivity and Internet services to its member NRENs in Eastern and Southern Africa (“the Region”). It now has a 10Gbps IP connection to GEANT.
The AfricaConnect initiative coordinated by DANTE will establish regional backbones in Africa based on fibre optic cables, connect them to GEANT and provide peering with similar networks in Europe and other continents.
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

9. NICHE Project Support ZAMREN Operationalising ZAMREN
Development of Organisational, Business Plans, policies and strategies
Procurement, Installation and Deployment of ICT infrastructure to support ZAMREN operations at both ZAMREN NOC and member institutions
Selecting , priotising, and support of services of ZAMREN
Deployment of ICTs at HEIs
Development of ICT policies and strategies
Capacity building of Management and Technical skills
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

10. ZAMREN AMBITION LEVEL ZAMREN
Provide low-cost Gigabit connectivity to education and research institutions in Zambia
Provide innovative use of ICT services that will support enhanced research and education programmes, taking into account demographic and issues unique in the country and region
Major player in the regional initiatives of Ubuntunet Alliance and other networking organisations worldwide
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

11. CONCLUSION
The Theme for the 2011tcn Conference “Enabling Communities” clearly applies to not only European Research and Education Networks but indeed the rest of the world. More so in Africa where even basic connectivity is a challenge yet to be overcome. Universities and research institutions in Africa have a lot to share and learn with their counterparts worldwide. It is time they were ably connected. The Networking world need to put this on their agenda
ZAMREN
ZAMREN
7/6/2018

12. THANK YOU