Colo in Africa

Thu Jul 18 09:04:38 UTC 2019

Africa, Russia...

You can take as example Lebanon.
Capital and major city in tiny country, ~40km away from each other, and 
only way you can get 2 points connected over microwaves(due mountains - 
several hops), over "licensed" providers, DSP, who hook this points for 
$10-$30/mbps/month. And many of them don't have support at evenings and 
weekend. Of course, due crappy electricity in country and economical 
situation, discharged batteries and outages at evening/night at 
"licensed" DSP sites - common case.
The laws of the country are so cool, that it is even forbidden to lay 
optics from the building standing next to other building, unless you are 
government monopoly (and they don't sell fiber connectivity).

In Africa, many people do not have electricity at all and cook on open 
fire, i imagine what difficulties they have with connectivity.
The last time when I worked with a team on study to invest in telecom in 
Africa - results discouraged even trying to engage in telecom subject 
there.
I think the only ones who are interested in decent connectivity there - 
mobile operators. Maybe worth to find connections and talk to them.

On 2019-07-17 20:16, Mark Tinka wrote:
> On 17/Jul/19 17:04, Rod Beck wrote:
> 
>> The cross continent connectivity is not going to be particularly
>> reliable. Prone to cuts due to wars and regional turmoil. And
>> imagine how it takes to repair problems at the physical layer.
> 
> I think that view is too myopic... you make it sound like Namibia,
> Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia are at war. Just like all other
> continents, unrest exists in some states, not all of them.
> 
> For the regions the OP is interested in, there isn't any conflict
> there that would prevent him from deploying network.
> 
> Terrestrial connectivity is not a viable solution because:
> 
>  	* It costs too much.
>  	* Different countries (even direct neighbors) do not share social,
> economic or political values.
>  	* Most of the available network is in the hands of incumbents,
> typically controlled by the gubbermint.
>  	* It costs too much.
>  	* There isn't sufficient capacity to drive prices down when crossing
> 2 or more countries.
>  	* It costs too much.
>  	* Many markets are closed off and it's impossible to obtain licenses
> to compete.
>  	* It costs too much.
>  	* Much of the network is old and has barely been upgraded.
>  	* It costs too much.
>  	* For those bold enough to build, the terrain in some parts is not a
> walkover.
> 
> 	* It costs too much.
> 
> Mark.