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Recent developments in optical network technology, plus the extension of well-known Local Area Network (LAN)/( Wide Area Networks- WAN) architecture from the desktop to the neighbourhood and beyond, are allowing the deployment of very low-cost and high bandwidth optical networks for the carriage of internet traffic.
It is these global developments like the National Backbone Infrastructure in Uganda that will gradually permit schools, municipal authorities, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and corporate organizations to deploy and manage their own high speed optical network en masse instead of relying on the service-based offers from traditional carriers like large telecoms or cable firms.
With the growth of the internet into a global network of networks. It is obvious that the Internet is a central infrastructure supporting the global information economy.
In Africa at present, majority of economies are striving to improve broadband provision as a National Policy/Economic Strategy.
Originally as a world standard, the internet infrastructure was formally running on the telecommunications infrastructure and the connections were under close control of traditional carriers.
The emerging deployment of fibre optic technology has yielded several advantages in comparison to traditional metal communication lines.
Fibre optical cables have much greater bandwidth than metal cables for they carry or have immense capacity to carry data in comparison to metallic cables. A single fibre can carry over 600,000 plus voice circuits compared to a telephone line pair which can carry 2 voice circuits.
Fibre optic cables are not prone or susceptible to interference and conduct no electricity.
This means ground faults are not an issue. They can be run through storm trains, the sea etc. with no effect.
They however can be susceptible to damage via negligent incision.
Fibre optic cables are thinner and tighter than metal wire cables.
Fibre optic data is transmitted digitally through zeros and ones; the natural form for computer data transmission rather than analogically.
There is a possibility that almost all future communication will employ fibre optics. These cables have a long life expectancy of 20-50 years.
The fibre optic technology deployed in National Backbones is fundamental in enabling the provision of broadband services that run key huge economies like Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore and USA among others. Gradually most economies in Africa including Uganda and the regional economies of Kenya, Tanzania Burundi Rwanda and Southern Sudan will have National backbones linked to international gateways- Courtesy of the new fibre Optics network technology.
Benefits that the government will create with an efficiently utilized National Backbone Infrastructure include improved services and convenience to citizens, improved productivity.
Other benefits are; transparency and a corruption free system, empower the public to conveniently access and submit information, improve quality of life for disadvantaged communities while reducing the digital divide, and strengthen good governance.
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