COUNTRY FOCUS : UGANDA
Google through its C-Squared entity has laid over 1,000 km of fibre optic cable in the Kampala metro area since 2015 . Facebook through its partnership with Airtel Uganda has laid over 800 km of fibre optic cable throughout Uganda , primarily in the northern town of Gulu . MTN Uganda , the largest telecom company in Uganda has also laid about 6,000 km of fibre optic cable .
Multiple wholesale Internet service providers offer access through fibre optic cables into Uganda . From 2017 to July 2023 , the cost of commercial Internet 25 Mbps +/ mo service dropped from an average of approximately $ 300 to $ 30 . Uganda imposes 12 % excise duty on each Internet data service purchase , deducted when a purchase is made .
In May 2021 , Raxio , a company owned by US investors , opened its $ 15 million tier III data centre , Uganda ’ s first tier III centre , in the Kampala Industrial and Business Park . Raxio plans to build a second data centre in the Free Zone set up near the Entebbe International Airport .
Raxio Group is Africa ’ s carrier-neutral Tier III data centre operator . Raxio Group now has operational facilities in Uganda , Ethiopia , Mozambique , the Democratic Republic of Congo , and Côte d ’ Ivoire and will soon be operational in Tanzania and Angola .
Growth in Uganda ’ s Internet availability has pushed up demand for local data services , data security , and streamlined content delivery , including tier-rated data centres , content partnerships , and data security expertise .
Connectivity milestones and maintenance , helping ATC to in some cases pre-empt and address outages before they occur
In September this year , Liquid Intelligent Technologies announced the upgrade of its 1,300km fibre route connecting Kenya ’ s east coast city of Mombasa to Busia on the Ugandan border , bringing additional multi-terabit capacity and additional resilience to the region .
This high-speed route and the upgrades to the existing routes between Kenya and Uganda enhance digital connectivity while supporting several other East African countries with greater efficiency and reliable regional connectivity . This expansion allows Liquid to offer 99.99 % uptime availability of services between Mombasa and the Uganda border to its customers , further solidifying its role as a provider in the region ’ s digital transformation .
Kenya is emerging as a digital and connectivity hub in East Africa , with multiple undersea cable providers docking at the port of Mombasa . Liquid ’ s new fibre route complements its existing terrestrial fibre routes , rapidly expanding data traffic and further boosting the region ’ s connectivity capabilities .
Cloud and application stacks
In August this year , Liquid Intelligent Technologies , announced the official launch of the first Microsoft Azure Stack in Uganda . This achievement is a significant milestone for Liquid Uganda as it can now enable local businesses to access cloud solutions that meet the local data regulatory requirements .
Since 2021 , American Tower Corporation , ATC , has selected equipment provided by NEC XON to ensure constant visibility of key tower infrastructure so that Ugandans have reliable access to critical Internet services through their chosen carriers . ATC , which possesses an extensive network of tower infrastructure across Uganda , leases space to major carriers like MTN . The network , supporting millions of users , must remain operational at all times .
NEC XON provides robust hardware , including remote terminal units , while ATC manages the software component . NEC XON ’ s vendoragnostic hardware was extensively tested and approved alongside the previous incumbent ’ s RTU , which had been in use for 12 years . ATC needs constant remote and comprehensive visibility of all tower sites . Tower companies can face high operating costs to ensure sites remain operational , and a reliable RTU ensures visibility and up-tothe-minute live data .
Managing power , understanding which power source is in use , knowing when to refuel diesel generators at tower sites , knowing what expertise is needed at a site due to visibility and timeous reporting of faults and maintaining a workforce to meet service level agreements with carriers are critical components of managing these tower sites .
Using NEC XON ’ s units , ATC can view and collect data , measure fuel consumption , and determine whether a site is powered by solar , generator , or fuel . This capability enables proactive site management
By investing in the first Azure Stack hub in Uganda , Liquid is not only demonstrating its commitment to the country ’ s digital transformation but also actively supporting the Uganda Digital Transformation Roadmap . This roadmap aims to connect 90 % of Ugandan households to the Internet by 2040 , a goal that Liquid is dedicated to helping achieve .
Liquid Intelligent Technologies also expanded its products offered through its Cyber Security Fusion Centres . Aimed at providing customers with a more holistic cyber security proposition , the solution will see features such as asset management , risk remediation , patch management and compliance support incorporated into Liquid ’ s existing cloud security services .
By leveraging its local infrastructure and cloud expertise , Liquid is positioned to deliver these solutions across East Africa . The company ’ s Azure stacks in Uganda , Kenya , Tanzania , and Rwanda ensure businesses can remain compliant with local regulations while accessing world-class cloud and security services . Supporting this , its CSFCs provide both enterprise and SME customers with tailored support across cyber security , cloud , and networks for end-to-end security .
With the addition of these new solutions to the already existing portfolio including L3-L7 DDoS Mitigation , Virtual CISO , Managed Security Services , Liquid can help its customers manage and safeguard their cyber assets more effectively , while offering proactive threat detection and prevent cyberattacks . p
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