Home

UbuntuNet-Connect 2010, Johannesburg, 18-19 November 2010

Africa-Connect 2010 Logo

 Rolling out the Regional Infrastructure: From dreams to achievement

"Infrastructure...Applications....Content...Innovation...Policy"

Kopanong Resort and Conference Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

The Deadline for submission of abstracts has been extended to 31st August 2010.

Download the updated Call for Papers here.

Register here through the TENET DITCHE portal

1.    Background
Five years ago, the Alliance was a dream, and we were looking forward with a lot of hope to the creation of a strong regional Research and Education Network with strong NRENs as members.  A lot has happened since that time:

  • The UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education Networking Is.  Membership has grown to 12,    and is targeted to reach 14 by the end of 2010.
  • During 2009, two marine fibers, SEACOM and TEAMS, landed on the East Coast of Africa, making the dream of high bandwidth connectivity international at affordable prices a reality in this region for the first time.
  • Governments in the region have become more positive about supporting research and education networking, even if many of them still have limited appreciation of the scope and potential of REN activities as a critical stimulant for national development.
  • Most of the member NRENs now have their Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) and independent IP address space.  A small but rapidly increasing number are also actually operational.
  • Three years ago, paying $4000 and more per Mbps per month for a semi-duplex VSAT link was the norm. Now, universities are increasingly getting access at typical prices of $500 per Mbps per month for a full-duplex fiber based circuit, a price reduction of about 90%.
  • Five years ago, there was excitement about total pledges, there was considerable excitement at the USD 3 million pledged to enable educational and research institutions to acquire bandwidth on then- planned EASSy cable.  Now, we have formal commitment for €12million from the EC as part of a total package of €15 million for AfricaConnect – a project that will establish a dedicated regional network with international connectivity.

We never expected to move so fast in so short a time.  When the African National Congress came to power in South Africa, they had invested themselves so much in the struggle that they were somewhat taken aback by the reality of having to run a country.  The Alliance, and the new NRENs, face similar challenges:  Now that regional and international connectivity is a reality, it is the time to deliver on our promises.  This has led to our conference theme for this year:

Rolling out the Regional Infrastructure: From dreams to achievement
"Infrastructure...Applications....Content...Innovation...Policy"

2.    Call for Papers
The Alliance invites Papers that address the broad topic of research and education networking in Africa, addressing (but not limited to) the following sub-themes:

  1. Infrastructure
  2. Applications
  3. Content
  4. Innovation
  5. Policy

Authors are invited to submit 500 word summaries of their proposed papers or presentations, clearly indicating the key message to be shared, not later than 31st August 2010.
Paper summaries should be sent to: UbuntuNet Alliance info@ubuntunet.net

3.    Location
UbuntuNet-Connect 2010 will be hosted by the South Africa NREN, TENET.  The venue is the Kopanong Resort and Conference Centre, close to O R Tambo International Airport.  O R Tambo is an international hub, accessible by direct flights from all continents (most trans-Atlantic carriers route through Europe before making a direct connection to South Africa).

4.    Related meetings
Other meetings and events associated with UbuntuNet-Connect 2010 include:

  1. The AfricaConnect Annual meeting to be attended by CEOs of NRENs along with colleagues from DANTE and European NRENs: 15th of November
  2. Technical Capacity Building (led by TENET) for the CTOs of member NRENs: 15th - 16th November.  This will include a specific session that will focus on AfricaConnect
  3. Executive skills one day workshop for the CEOs of member NRENs, their Chairs, and if possible other members of NREN Boards: 16th November
  4. Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board: 8.30 am – 9.30 am, 17th November
  5. Meeting of CEOs and CTOs with focus on AfricaConnect: 10am – 1pm, 17th November
  6. Meeting of the Board of the Alliance: 2 – 4pm, 17th November
  7. Technical outing (led by TENET) for the CTOs (and interested CEOs) of NRENs: 2 – 5pm, 17th November
  8. UbuntuNet-Connect 2010: 8am, 18th November – 1pm, 19th November.

6.   Programme Committee and Peer Review

  1. Boubakar Barry, AAU
  2. Cathrin Stover, DANTE
  3. Duncan Greaves, TENET
  4. F F Tusubira, UbuntuNet Alliance
  5. Geoff Hoy, TENET
  6. Imaan Maly, SUIN
  7. Margaret Ngwira, UbuntuNet Alliance
  8. Steve Song, Shuttleworth Foundation

7.    Contacts
Send all inquiries by email to UbuntuNet Alliance info@ubuntunet.net.  You may also call +265 1754 535.