Coverage in Sub-Sahara region

      Intresting Trends:

• Sudan shifted from average rtt of approx. 685 ms to approx. 260 ms in Nov 2004. This is a classic case of shift from Satellite to Fiber. However there is are no remarkable trends visible in the throughput or packet loss which may be due to congestion in the Fiber Link.

• Mauritania shows interesting behaviour. One of the hosts we monitor (www.pmd.mr)  shows improved connectivity around Jan 2006 indicating a shift from satellite to landline. However the other host (www.maurifemme.mr), which is  indicated as being on satellite and located in Norway (courtesy http://www.geoiptool.com) is showing the same rtt of around 680+ ms. If this host is actually in Mauritania then we can conclude that some parts of the country have shifted to fibre but others are still on satellite.  
  • In addition the throughput and packet loss for the both hosts show marked improvement since Jan 2006 which indicates better connectivity.                    

• Uganda has shown steady improvement in throughput and loss quality over the years since we started monitoring it in 2000. However the min_rtt of above 600 ms and the avg_rtt around 800 ms indicates that it is still mostly on Satellite.

• Botswana shows a switch from satellite to fibre as the min_rtt switches from 600+ ms to around 350 ms around Sep 2004. Howver the packet loss and throughput do not show and particular trends which might indicate significant improvement.

• Very recent data for Ghana i.e. (Sep and Oct 2006) inidcates a shift from satellite to fiber. In particular if we examine pingtable.pl one of the hosts shows a step change from 680+ ms to 260+ms, while the other still continues to indicate satellite indicating that part of the coutry may be shifting to fibre.

• Step change in the min RTT of Eritrea from 625 ms to 700 ms approx. in Sep, 2004.

• The loss quality of Namibia shows steady improvement.

•  The following countries are on Satellite since we began monitoring them:
  • Ghana          May, 2005
  • Kenya          April, 2004
  • Madagascar  Jan, 2004
  • Malawi         Sep, 2005
  • Mozambique Jan, 2004
  • Niger           July, 2004
  • Nigeria        July, 2004
  • Rwanda       Mar, 2005
  • Tanzania      Jan, 2004
  • Uganda        Jan, 2000
• The following countries are on Fibre since we began monitoring them:
  • Benin        March, 2005
  • Mali           March, 2005
  • Sinegal      Jan   ,2004
  • S. Africa    May, 2003