Launch of Nigerian Research and Educational Network (NgREN) recently have increased bandwidth demand by telecommunications operators, banks among other companies using the commodity to 377 Synchronous Transport Module, level 1 (STM-1) frame.
The Synchronous Transport Module, level 1 (STM-1) frame is the basic transmission format for SDH—the first level of the synchronous digital hierarchy of bandwidth from undersea cable infrastructure as well as satellite.
There is 155 megabyte per second in an STM-1 frame.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that NgREN currently delivers 155mbps (STM-1) capacity to each of the 27 university in addition to 350 STM-1 on demand before the launch of NgREN.
Also, demand for STM-1in the country has recorded a steady increase from 200 STM-1 in 2012 to 350 as June this year representing 75percent growth.
Dewole Ajao, operations manager, Bandwidth Consortium, said that beyond just downloading from the Internet, students and researchers in connected universities should be empowered to further their research and education using NgREN.
A basic example is access to meteorological data for research into suitability of different areas for crop production.
The applications are limitless; the key is to open up the networks and content to students and researchers for innovation.
The NREN should also be used to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts.
“Very importantly, it would be good to see all the various research institutes we have across Nigeria plugged into the REN so we can harness their output. After all, what is the usefulness of research that ends up in a remote silo that cannot be accessed by those that could benefit from it?
He added that the celebration could be seen by some as a demonstration of videoconferencing which has been a basic communication tool for several years. It goes beyond that; it is hopefully the beginning of a new era in learning and research in Nigeria. I look forward to seeing real work being done with the REN and at the very least, access to research data that will help exploit opportunities and solve problems.
Mohammed Rudman, managing director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, stressed the need for the required bandwidth for higher educational institutions and research centres.
According to him, with the launch of National Research Network (NREN) by National University Commission that has got 27 federal universities connected to the network, universities will require bandwidth for its operation.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations revealed that the available bandwidth capacity from undersea cable infrastructure is put at 7,862 STM-1.
It was gathered that as at 2009 fiber link capacity available in the country were provided through Sat-3 operated by Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (Nitel) and Suburban Telecom. Sat-3 has 64 STM-1 capacity out of which 30 is demanded while Suburban contributes 3 STM-1 bringing available capacity in the country from the fiber optic infrastructure to 67 STM-1.
In the last three years the capacity has increased by over 4,000 per cent due to the launch of commercial service by Glo 1 contributing 2,345 STM-1 and MainOne which has 1,765 STM-1. More so, the coming of WACS with additional capacity of 3,685 STM-1 brought about the overall percentage increase to rise by 7000%.