Bandwidth Utilization Challenges in Nigerian Universities

1
Bandwidth Utilization Challenges in Nigerian
Universities

• A Case Study Of
• Federal University Of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
• Dahunsi, Folasade Mojisola
• ltfmdahunsi_at_futa.edu.nggt

2
(No Transcript)
3
Nigerian Universities

• Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa
  and the tenth in the world. About 150 million
  people
• There are 75 universities in Nigeria, 27 of them
  are Federal Universities
• Several universities in Nigeria have an Internet
  connection of below 1Mbps . This is about as much
  as a DSL connection (512 Kbps to 1.544 Mbps),
  which is typically used to connect a single
  household in the West to the Internet. Bristol
  University, by contrast, has a 2.5 Gbps link
  (Belcher, 2005)

4
The Internet

• The fantastic growth rate of the internet
  attests to its potential value and empowering
  appeal. The internet functions as a strategic
  resource for business, institutions and
  corporations.
• The importance of the internet to research and
  development cannot be overemphasized.
• Unfortunately, most Nigeria Universities have
  very low bandwidth and do not enjoy the use of
  the internet maximally.

5
The Internet

• The libraries in the universities are not well
  equipped and the only alternative to information
  (the internet) is almost unusable. Our
  universities lack access to local, regional and
  global research information which leads to
• Brain drain
• Lack of technological development
• Frustration and low productivity from the
  researchers
• Lack of access to collaborator
• Restriction in research potential.

6
challenges

• Limited bandwidth
• Expensive bandwidth
• universities invest a lot and yet so little is
  achieved.
• Slow and frustrating connection
• The few digital libraries available are almost
  unusable.

7
The Federal University of Technology

• The Federal University of Technology, Akure FUTA
  as the University is fondly called was
  established in 1981 and it formally took off on
  22nd November, 1982. There are 6 schools, 28
  departments.
• The current students enrolment is over 10,000
  while the total staffing position is over 1,600.

8
Computer Resource centre

• The computer resource centre was commissioned in
  November 2004
• Presently, about 100 people use CRC internet
  facilities at a time
• Uses wireless spread spectrum radio techniques
  for linking buildings
• Hardware
• - Cisco equipments
• Software
• - Linux and windows
• VSAT connection of 256/128 kbps uplink/downlink
  which costs about 10,000 Euros quarterly.

9
Challenges

• Congested network Constant slow downs and halt
  which leads to frustration and waste of user
  time.
• Constant lightning strikes destroying outdoor
  networking equipment.
• Constant problem with the wireless link.
• Power outage
• Funds

10
Challenges cond..

• Large downloads cant be carried out.
• The computing environment is far too small. Both
  cybercafés have about 70 computer systems in all.
  Only 15 of these are dedicated to staff and the
  rest for the students. All Head of Department
  have internet connection in their offices and
  people with laptops can browse at most points on
  campus.
• Unqualified staff and understaffing problems

11
Ways the CRC staff confront the challenges

• Increasing the bandwidth
• The university has paid for a higher bandwidth
  512/256 kbps which costs about 16,500 Euros for a
  quarter
• Increasing the number of computers available in
  the cybercafé

12
Ways the CRC staff confront the challenges

• They warn through the university bulletin about
  peer to peer networking programs
• Install antivirus on the system
• Limiting users to only 32kbps

13
What more should be done

• Capacity building for the staff
• Bandwidth optimization techniques
• Collaborators to help with the low bandwidth
  challenges in Nigeria universities especially the
  issue of research opportunities
• Design and develop a working web mail

14
What more should be done cond..

• I am presently working on Nigerian Universities
• - Modeling the traffic network
• - Bandwidth optimization techniques
• - Congestion control analysis
• - Capacity plan of the universities

15
What I need

• - Advice
• - Research materials and equipment
• - Collaborators to work with