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A nation’s Digital Infrastructure has become the lifeblood of all sectors of that nation’s society. In every country there are national infrastructure sectors which may include: Communications, Defence, Emergency Services, Education, Business, Energy, Finance (Commerce), Food, Government, Health, Transport and Water. Several nations have defined ‘sub-sectors’ like; Emergency Services for example can be split into Police, Ambulance, Fire Services and Coast Guard.
One core part of good IT Infrastructure is Internet Connectivity. We are constantly being asked “What is Zanzibar’s internet connectivity like?” or “Is there affordable, good, stable, fast internet in Zanzibar”?
With these questions in mind the increase in Digital Nomads choosing to live anywhere in the world, and the increase in the need to be connected and work online, we address the whole subject of Digital Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure on the island of Zanzibar.
Why is Digital Internet Connectivity so important? Well, Digital connectivity has become a necessity for the national health and welfare of Zanzibar with broadband and mobile services linking homes and businesses across the island of Zanzibar with the rest of the World.
With recent growth and expansion comes a growing demand for data, and therefore the speed, reliability, and capacity of broadband connections, is growing rapidly. Demand will continue to increase as businesses, homes and all types of economic infrastructure become smarter. The Covid 19 pandemic accelerated these trends and reinforced the fact that the provision of fast and reliable digital connectivity is now almost as central to society and the economy as the supply of electricity or water. Internet connectivity is integral to everything from education, to business, to healthcare.
For example; Hospitals and clinics in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar are introducing ‘tele-health’ and online remote consultations. These consultations are done via online digital video connections. ‘Tele-health’ is a term given to the service given when a piece of healthcare equipment (eg blood-pressure monitor, mobile ECG etc.) is used by the patient (sat at home) that gives a readout that a doctor remotely located in a Zanzibar clinic can read digitally. In addition a doctor remotely located in Europe can join the consultation and is able to give immediate advice to the doctor in Zanzibar. A three-way remote online consultation.
Digital infrastructure consists of various interconnected networks which are owned and operated by different companies. Broadly, these networks are split into three different levels:
The core network is the backbone of the digital communications networks and is the “intelligent” part of the network, which identifies where the network’s subscribers are and ensures that data is sent to the correct user. It connects an operators’ network directly to the backbone of the internet.
The backhaul is the middle of the network and consists mostly of high capacity transmission lines that connect the core network to the local exchanges for fixed broadband or wireless base stations for mobile connections.
Access networks for broadband include copper and fibre connections to premises, and for mobile connections, consists of networks of base stations.
Digital infrastructure is a complex and interdependent system of systems, but we will focus on those services that are accessed by consumers and businesses and broadly splits into two categories: fixed broadband and mobile connections.
Note: Within the next two years SATELITE CONNECTIONS will be introduced to East Africa by the Starlink Project (Elon Musk). This will undoubtable radically change the Digital Infrastructure in Zanzibar.h
Fixed broadband provides a continuous connection to the internet for homes and businesses, replacing previous ‘dial up’ connections. To use home broadband, customers usually connect devices wirelessly to a WiFi router. The router is connected through the wall to broadband cabling technology, which is normally supplied to the premises via a local ‘exchange’ box. The ‘exchange’ in turn connects via more cables to the exchange, which is part of the internet service provider’s network. There are a range of different service levels that fixed broadband can provide depending on which access technology is used:
Copper (ADSL) consists of a copper cable connecting the exchange to the cabinet and the cabinet to the premises. Copper networks are only capable of providing a basic level of connection and can be unreliable. Actual speeds delivered by copper connections diminish with distance.
Fibre Optic Cable to the exchange cabinet consists of a fibre cable connecting the exchange to the cabinet but a copper cable connecting the cabinet to the premises. Fibre to the cabinet can provide superfast connections but, like ADSL connections, is susceptible to faults and actual speeds diminish with distance between the cabinet and the premises.
Full Fibre to the premises consists of a fibre connection from the exchange all the way to the premises, normally bypassing the cabinet. It can provide gigabit connections and can be more reliable than the other technologies. Generally, distance to the premises does not affect the speed delivered and localised congestion can more easily be avoided.
Firstly internet service is normally defined by Minimum Speed (stated in Mbits per second).
Here are some example categories of Minimum Speed and the activities that service can support:
Usually at least 10Mbps (download) and 1Mbps upload. For making video calls, downloading a one-hour episode of high definition television (HDTV) in around 15 minutes.
Usually at least 20-100Mbps (download) and 10Mbps upload. For small businesses or individuals working online ‘in the cloud’ for file transfers, small video production. Capable of supporting up to 10 devices at once at a single location, downloading a 1hourr episode of HDTV in around 5 minutes
Usually 30Mbps to 300 (download) and up to 30Mbps upload. For larger business. Capable of supporting multiple devices at once, downloading a 1-hour episode of HDTV in around four minutes
300 to 1000Mbps (download). Multiple people streaming ultrahigh definition TV at once, downloading an hour episode of HDTV in less than 30 seconds
1000 and above (download). Capable of downloading a high definition film in under one minute or a full 4K film in less than 15 minutes
INTERNET SERVICE SPEEDS IN ZANZIBAR Usually 2Mbps (download) and 1Mbps upload. Cost around $50-100 per month
Usually 10Mbps-100Mbps (download) and 4Mbps upload. Cost $100+ per month
Mobile networks provide telephony and data connectivity services to consumers by using a mobile phone as a terminal. Like fixed broadband, there are a range of different service levels that mobile connections can offer.
Mobile access network infrastructure consists of two main elements:
The network of base stations providing cellular coverage across the UK, allowing mobile devices to transmit and receive data via the radio spectrum. Base stations vary in size and cost, but each requires an appropriate site with a power supply and a fibre or microwave connection to the backhaul network.
Part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and is widely used for modern day telecommunications, broadcast TV and radio. Information can be transmitted over different frequency bands within the radio spectrum. The radio spectrum is a finite resource and so bands are allocated to users, the government has a duty in each country to ensure that the spectrum is efficiently used.
2G – The oldest available technology deployed in the UK, now mainly used for telephony services
3G – The first generation of service that enabled the use of internet services
4G – The most widely accessed technology, capable of delivering reasonable capacity broadband for video streaming
5G – The latest generation of mobile communication technologies, with the potential to provide ultra-reliable, low latency and very high capacity connectivity that can support new use cases across areas such as transport and the industrial Internet of Things
4G LTE – There is no true standard for 4G LTE, it covers the entire range between 3G to 4G, giving it a massive range of potential speeds. On average, however, download speeds range from 1-5 Mbps, with faster speeds available in good coverage areas.
Coverage can be patchy on the East Coast even though the island is flat – it does rely on the coverage provided by the relay masts. Stone Town is the more reliable area for reception – but it all does vary on Service Provider, distance from mast and device you are using. Zantel remains the most constant but it does depend on where you are located. Our advice would be try two or three mobile service providers out before deciding.
Fixed wireless access can also be provided by satellites. This is particularly important for premises where no other connection type is available. However, connections provided by geostationary satellites are have often provided poor quality due to the distance between the satellite and the premises it is connecting to.
This may change as more low earth satellite constellations are deployed, such as Starlink and One Web, which are closer to premises and therefore can provide better quality. Starlink is scheduled to come to East Africa in 2023.
Like water, Zanzibar needs Internet Connectivity to flow fast, be affordable, accessible and reliable.
Watch this space
Simply IT believes in SUSTAINABLE (long-term), AFFORDABLE (competitively-priced), LOCAL IT Solutions that meet international standards.
Many IT companies in East Africa talk about Digital Solutions. But we specialise in sustainable website design. We don’t just talk, we practice it. A sustainable IT solution is best designed and maintained by a professionally trained LOCAL support team. That’s why we are HERE in Zanzibar for you!
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