This document discusses fibre optic networks in Africa. It provides contact information for the Fibre to the Home Council Africa and outlines reasons why fibre is a future-proof infrastructure option. Statistics are presented showing that Africa's inventory of terrestrial fibre optic networks has more than doubled in the last five years. Over 200 million more people in Africa now have access to fibre networks within 50km. The current situation involves regulatory hurdles and delays that hamper further expansion of fibre networks on the continent.

1. Who we are?
Juanita Clark
+27 (0) 82 4181 441
juanita@ftthcouncilafrica.com
www.ftthcouncilafrica.com

3. Why Fibre?
Fibre is future proof infrastructure
-Fibre is green… since glass is
made of sand (there is plenty
of sand) - no more mining for
copper.
-Fibre does not get affected by
electrical interference
-Fibre does not need electricity
to transmit signal.
-Fibre does not have a street
value and is not likely to be
stolen
-Quality of service
Creation of new industries

4. Why Fibre?
• All technologies rely on fibre… high speed
wireless, 4G (LTE) mobile backhaul,
FTTB, FTTH;
• In order to serve the needs of the future
fibre will play a critical role as enabler of
bigger bandwidth speeds;
• Attract international companies whom
require high bandwidth speeds to conduct
their business globally;

5. CURRENT SITUATION

6. Inventory of Terrestrial Transmission Networks, Africa
Africa’s inventory of terrestrial fibre optic networks has more than doubled in the last five years.
Since June 2009, an average of 154-km of new fibre network enters service per day across Africa.
Q4 2014: 981,370-km
Q2 2014: 958,901-km
Q2 2013: 905,259-km
Q2 2012: 732,815-km
Q2 2011: 660,230-km
Q2 2010: 585,468-km
Q2 2009: 465,659-km
Q4 2014: 586,707-km
Q2 2014: 564,091-km
Q2 2013: 524,847-km
Q2 2012: 412,729-km
Q2 2011: 376,564-km
Q2 2010: 331,066-km
Q2 2009: 278,056-km
Operational Fibre
Transmission Networks
Total Inventory of
Transmission Networks
Total inventory of terrestrial fibre optic and microwave networks which are operational, under
construction, planned or proposed. Not including microwave networks of mobile operators.
Measured in Route Kilometres.
Source: Africa Bandwidth Maps
http://www.africabandwidthmaps.com
Q4 2014: > 63,833-km
Operational Metro/ FTTx Fibre
Transmission Networks

7. Fibre Reach, Terrestrial Fibre Networks
Source: Africa Bandwidth Maps http://www.africabandwidthmaps.com
Fibre Reach, Africa
This network expansion has brought new towns, cities and countries within the reach of fibre optic
networks for the first time. Since 2010, 76 million more people are now within 10-km, 150 million
within 25-km, and 205 million people are within a 50-km reach of an operational fibre network
node.
10-km 25-km 50-km
2014 207.4m 409.8m 605.8m
22.3% 44.0% 65.1%
2013 187.5m 370.9m 557.6m
21.1% 41.8% 62.9%
2012 173.9m 345.1m 522.3m
20.2% 40.0% 60.6%
2011 160.6m 313.2m 483.9m
18.6% 36.3% 56.1%
2010 131.2m 259.3m 401.1m
15.6% 30.8% 47.7%
Change +76.1m +150.5m +204.8m
In June 2014, 44% of the population of
Sub-Saharan Africa (410 million) was
within a 25-km range of an operational
fibre optic network node. This compared
to 41.8% (371 million) in 2013, 40.0%
(345 million) in 2012, 36.3% (313 million)
in 2011, and 30.8% (259 million) in 2010.

8. Building Digital Africa
• Building digital Africa does not rely on a
single telecommunications medium…
serving the people will always rely on
hybrid solution of mobile and fixed line
technology

9. Current situation
• Crude regulatory landscape;
• Large amounts of fibre being deployed to
serve mobile backhaul;
• Projects are not delivered on time;
• Processes and procedures for acquiring RoW
are slow and cumbersome;
• Red tape means delays, which means loss of
revenues;
• Low levels of private sector investment
because of uncertainty in telecomms sector;

10. Ubiquitous access
Rural/ ubiquitous connectivity depends on:
• Communication, Communication, Communication
• Reduced cost for wayleaves, time scales, project
certainty.
• Mobile backhaul
• Electricity
• Green Field deployments
• Efficient policy
• Determine the role of government in providing
telecommunications
• Content… uptake

11.  Closer engagement to understand
the challenges of the industry
 Creating awareness of the benefits
of high speed fibre at ALL layers
within government
 Endorse our marketing drives and
educational initiatives
 Support our workshops and
conferences
 Inputs into Newsletters or specific
marketing collateral.
 HEAR OUR VOICE!
How can we work
together?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIXCLeU3DLY