A tech startup called UNEMEA is pushing two technologies to lower the costs of deploying broadband via fibre and wireless networks in Kenya: micro-trenching and Ruckus Wireless. Micro-trenching involves making narrow trenches only 20cm deep to lay flexible fibre optic conduits, cutting deployment costs by up to 25% and speeds up installation by 15 times compared to traditional trenching. Ruckus Wireless uses beamforming to extend wireless internet ranges to 15km with bandwidth of up to 300Mbps, providing wireless connectivity for applications like internet access, TV and digital signage at lower implementation costs than alternatives like WiFi or WiMax. UNEMEA argues these technologies can deliver affordable broadband connectivity in both

1. tech
INFRASTRUCTURE
IN THE TRENCHES Workers
Laying fibre:
laying fibre optic cables in Nairobi.
“The current methods of fibre
deployment are expensive...”
There’s a better way
A tech start up is pushing two technologies with
potential of lowering costs of deploying broandband
via fibre and wireless a 20cm deep trench. The conduit size
depends on the desired number of fibre
strands. “The conduit is made of very
BY MARTIN CHEGE UNEMEA says it has the technol- light material, making it flexible and
ogy that guarantees affordable and easy to handle.
Until now, the most effective way of less destructive deployment of fibre It is estimated that it costs KSh40,000
delivering broadband to homes has networks. “It has been used in Sweden, to do three kilometers using manual
been through wireless technologies. United Kingdom, Bangladesh and labour and roughly KSh10,000 using a
Fibre optic cables, the best carrier of Somali,” says Mr Abdulkadir. The firm machine. Mr Abdulkadir estimates that
high capacity bandwidth, have not been is the regional partner of TeraSpan contractors need 3-4 workers to lay 4.2
promoted as a solution for the “last Networks, a Canadian Company that Kilometres of fibre connection adding
mile”. The reason? High cost of pulling markets micro-trenching technology. that it is possible to lay 5.5 Kilometres
fibre to homes and strict environmental To lay fibre, contractors often dig in a day.
and local government regulations. trenches of between 2-3 feet, a labori- “The cost savings are tremendous
“The current methods of fibre ous manual, exercise that often ends and can be up to 25%,” he says. “It
deployment are expensive and damage up messing existing infrastructure like also speeds up deployment by up to 15
existing infrastructure,” says Zakaria water pipes, telephone and electricity times.” Micro trenching also reduces
Abdulkadir, the regional director of cables. Failure to share infrastructure instances of accidental damage to exist-
UNEMEA, a UK-based company that has also seen trenches dug up all over ing infrastructure. TeraSpan claims that
started operations in Kenya last year. city by the top network providers. micro-trenching can cut the cost of civil
But if fibre optic cables cannot Micro-trenching is the process of works by 80%.
reach homes, Kenyans might feel short- making small, “surgical” incisions Burying a critical cable so close
changed, given the heavy investments in the ground to lay fibre. As well as to the surface may sound ridiculous.
the country has made in submarine being eco-friendly, it is also aestheti- However, tests done on TeraSpan’s
cables. Most parts of the country are cally preferable in urban or suburban conduits show they can withstand
still using slow connections due to settings. Instead of normal ducts, it uses weights of up to 5 tonnes, or the
either lack of broadband or its high a flexible, robust but light conduit that approximate weight of a full-grown
cost. carries fibre strands that is buried in
BUSINESSPOST MAY 2010 18 MAGAZINE FOR THE ENTERPRISING

2. Why fibre optic cables?
Fibre-optic communication is a
method of transmitting information
from one place to another by sending
pulses of light through an optical
fibre. Because of its advantages over
electrical transmission, optical fibres
have largely replaced copper wire
communications in core networks in
the developed world.
Optical fibre is used by many
telecommunications companies to
transmit telephone signals, Internet
communication, and cable television
signals. Since 2000, the prices for
fibre-optic communications have
dropped considerably.
ZAKARIA male elephant. “Normal ducts Ph.D to install or maintain.” a “mesh”. This reduces inter-
ABDULKADIR,
regional director,
and conduits cannot withstand Wi-Fi has been all but writ- ference while reducing the
UNEMEA, says micro- such a force. We hope the ten off as a reliable means to number of access points, thus
trenching can deliver technology will not only bring distribute voice, video and lowering implementation and
savings of up to 25%. down infrastructure costs but data throughout the enterprise. maintenance costs. “Passing
it will also minimize sabotage This is because of interference these savings to subscribers can
and vandalism.” and obstacles that worsen its give a service provider an edge
Mr Abdulkadir says micro performance. over competitors.”
trenching has a return on Ruckus gear can provide Mr Abdulkadir says Ruckus
investment of 18 to 24 months. speeds of 190Mbps (mega bits technology will solve some of
UNEMEA in partnership with per second) up to a distance of the limitations of Wi-Fi. “It
TeraSpan are currently offering 15Km and bandwidth of up to extends the range of wireless
a finance scheme to encourage 300Mbps to surrounding areas. communications while offer-
the uptake of the technology by In developed markets, it is being ing more bandwidth capacity.
network operators and property used to build WLAN (wireless Because it doesn’t require addi-
developers. “The scheme has local area networks) in hotels tional licensing one can in
The challenge
enabled us implement micro- and education institutions that fact build a complete Ruckus
It is estimated that it trenching in Somalia for a deliver voice, high definition wireless network at the cost of
costs KSh40,000 to do telecoms service provider,” TV, video, digital signage, and a Wimax license.”
three kilometers using he says. Micro-trenching has for other sophisticated uses. Due to depletion of the
manual labour and successfully been used to deliver Locally, the technology is Wi m a x f r e q u e n cy b a n d ,
roughly KSh10,000 Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) in suitable for education institu- demand for Ruckus technology
using a machine. Mr Stockholm, Sweden. tions building campus wide is likely to rise. Operators and
Abdulkadir estimates The firm is also offering networks and internet service the government may also take
that contractors need
Ruckus Wireless products, providers rolling out internet it up to drive FTTH, which
3-4 workers to lay 4.2
Kilometres of fibre which offer a new class of access in residential estates, has potential to open up rural
connection adding technology that is revolution- says Mr Abdulkadir adding areas.
that it is possible to izing Wi-Fi for both enterprise that subscribers access the Globally, analysts forecast
lay 5.5 Kilometres in and service provider markets. network using wireless USB the worldwide WLAN market
a day. “Companies love Wi-Fi but modems, similar to those sold to reach US$9 billion by 2011,
hate the fact that it is flaky and by mobile telephone operators. with the enterprise segment
The solution doesn’t always reach where The devices costs KSh1,125. accounting for over 32% of
Micro trenching
they want it to, when they want U n l i k e c u r r e n t Wi - F i the market. According to
TeraSpan claims that
micro-trenching can
it to. Companies just want a networks that use three anten- InStat/MDR, wireless LANs
cut the cost of civil secure wireless network that nas, a Ruckus configuration have eclipsed Ethernet as the
works by 80%. works and doesn’t require a uses 12 antennas that create networking option of choice.
BUSINESSPOST MAY 2010 19 MAGAZINE FOR THE ENTERPRISING