DANTE, the international research network operator, and the European Commission’s EuropeAid Cooperation Office yesterday announced the signature of a €14.75M contract for support to a sub-Saharan African intra-regional research networking infrastructure which is already interconnected to the pan-European research network, GÉANT.
According to their press release, 80% of the , the AfricaConnect Project’s funding will come from the European Commission’s EuropeAid Co-operation Office, and the remainder will be contributed by the UbuntuNet Alliance, the African Partner in the project. The AfricaConnect logo with the drum was designed by a Malawi graphic artist.
This project will establish a high-capacity Internet network for research and education in Southern and Eastern Africa to provide the region with a gateway to global research collaboration, the objective of which is to overcome the current limitations of international research collaboration within sub-Saharan Africa and towards Europe, and to foster research and education collaboration and advancement within and between these regions.
DANTE, the coordinator of this project, will be partnered by regional counterpart organisations in Africa – UbuntuNet Alliance covering Eastern and Southern Africa, and WACREN covering Western and Central Africa – as well as the Association of African Universities; existing National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Africa (DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia); and several European NRENs (Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UK).
An international tender for the connectivity and equipment required for the this project will be announced soon. The infrastructure is expected to be operational by early 2012. The project is expected to last for four years, after which time the project partners will ensure the sustainability of the intra-regional African research network and its direct connection to GÉANT.
This is clearly a massive project as it will provide advanced data communications infrastructure which will enable African researchers to collaborate more easily with their international counterparts.
Congratulations to all folks who have been working tirelessly in order to realize it.
17 users commented in " European Commission injects €14.75M into sub-Saharan African intra-regional research networking infrastructure "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThis week I’ve seen a documentary about hoe EU has helped the building of roads in Morocco. I think that a community such as the European Union can have a major positive impact on African countries by helping them in their development process.
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This is a great project. It is nice that the infrastructure will be ready so quickly. Early 2012 is not bad at all. I hope that it goes well and that the benefits exceed expectations.
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This is something we must commend our friends in Europe for such a big investiment on african soil. Its impact will realy be very big just to conquer with Adambenedetto.
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That is such a awesome thing to do. Congrats on them for doing such a great thing.
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I haven’t heard anything about this. I wish this kind of stuff would get a bit more news coverage.
Johnny´s last [type] ..Welcome to How-tos
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Adwello says:
June 8th, 2011 at 3:22 am
I have to agree with Johnny, although i love reading buzz like this on blogs like yours, surely we need more news coverage on this and less on sensational negativity such as celebrity lifestyles! Let us celebrate the good humankind can achieve in the world by focusing on strong projects that carry bridges to network different cultures.
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The development of a robust internet infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa has the power to do some great things for the African continent. Kudos to Europe for stepping up.
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That’s a good investment. It will be a very good opportunity for these countries to develop once it is done!
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The best way to help struggling African economies is to give them a means to succeed. Expanding internet access is the first step in helping them create sustainable, self-developed businesses. Who knows, there could be the next Bill Gates over there.
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Great project, the African nations must have so many future entrepreneurs waiting to be discovered, exciting times lie ahead!
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Not sure how it happened but my link got jacked, This seems to be happening more and more and more these days.
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Wow, I am surprised that I did not hear about this sooner. I agree with Johnny, it is pretty sad when you finally hear about it through a blog.
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European Commission’s EuropeAid Co-operation Office has made a very kind effort in funding for this project. This will sure benefit the many people in Africa and their International counterparts.
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This is great news! For sure AfricaConnect Project would be able to benefit a lot from this funding share of European Commission. It is indeed great to know that in spite of the global crisis, we could still continue to help each other.
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A huge project indeed. The advanced data communications infrastructure that would be obtained out of this would definitely help many countries in their researches. A kind act from the European Commission.
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This would certainly create a giant help to people in Africa especially in Southern and Eastern parts where the focus of the project is. This is another giant step that would surely rise to many priveleges and wonderful outcome. Best of luck to all the people who are affiliated to the project and thanks to the benefactors.
Veronica´s last [type] ..No Articles Found
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Awesome news. With improved internet access, your ability to educate yourself in many subjects is greatly increased… hopefully we are moving towards a world where this is becoming a right for all people, the right to connectivity and information.
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