Hi Arthur,

WARNING: LONG POST - i might via off topic but you can pick out what is
useful to you. By Fixed Line, i will be referring to FTTX and ADSL
(Copper).


*********************************************************

   - *Is the reason for poor fixed line penetration mainly because the core
   infrastructure does not exist, or is it that it is hugely expensive, or
   both?*



*​*
​
To complement Marks submission on *FTTX*  from a Service Provider ( SP)
perspective,

>From scratch;

*Last Mile- *Initial investment would include laying Fiber To The
Premise/Building/Curb/Office all the way from the SP Point of Presence,
last mile to customer's premises. Fiber could be over head or underground
and each of these scenarios come with different set of requirements like
over head would require poles or underground would require digging of
trenches, fiber ducts and man holes, Then in comes the local councils and
municipal license fees for digging some times the process is ridiculous. In
short the price  of laying fiber per km varies from place to place. i would
throw this an average of UGX 1,500,000 per 500 meters.

That is from the last mile perspective. They also need to factor in
backhaul capacity, thats an additional cost if non existent or if
additional capacity is required.

*Equipment:- *Depending on the vendor the pricing of Core FTTX
equipment/node varies, a basic, refurbished/second hand EPON FTTX Optical
Line Terminal (OLT) which just one line card of  8 PONS each supporting 64
customers would go for about $3600. One will need the splitters, these
start from about $200 up words depending on the ones configuration. Then
the CPE's/ONU, these vary depending on whether its EPON or GPON (more
expensive) and also the port density of the CPE ( a 4 port EPON costs more
than a single port, a 4 Port GPON costs more than a single port GPON.. etc)
I would give a single port EPON ONU about $40 - $90 per unit off Alibaba
but because these ONU/equipment are not not vendor inter-operable, the
price of the ONU will be much higher say $200 or more.

*Price of Internet (MRC) - *After all is said and done about equipment etc
 it all comes down to the monthly recurring cost of internet packages being
sold over FTTX by the SP. would it make business sense for the SP to sell
128Kpbs, 256kbps or 512Kbps ? In my little experience, FTTX is pushed to or
taken up by higher end clients who can meet the high MRC for dedicated
internet of 1Mbps and above, you are looking at give or take UGX 900,000
per month. Not a cup of tea withyou  bread for many folks/SOHO's.

*ADSL (Fixed Copper) *
All that i have written above (price of Internet and last miles cables
works) on FTTX  applies to *ADSL*, only that ADSL is copper. Secondly from
a Equipment perspective, ADSL is somewhat cheaper. DSLAMS/MSANS nodes and
ADSL Modems are cheaper on average. Since ADSL is copper, its susceptible
to degradation depending on the distance of client from the DSLAM (the
nearer you are the better the performance), the quality of copper (Copper
degrades over time, 10 years or there about is  so one might experience
slow speeds when it rains)

IMHO Fixed Line over copper is on a downward trend because Copper theft is
the order of the day, its somewhat not a worthwhile investment anymore
because of the cable theft. Manholes are broken, copper is cut and stolen
so often and yet pvc copper cables are hardly sold off the shelf ready to
use as it was in the the past. You have to place your order then they will
manufacture and lead time can come to 60-90 days (manufacture and
shipping). its way easier to find a drum of fiber than one of copper in the
local market.


Fixed Wireless is easier to install, many SPs are using a free ISM
frequency, No digging trenches/duct, fees to the Municipal Council.

To sum up the above, The fixed line infrastructure does exist to some
extent but where it does exist, its being cannibalized (especially that on
copper). Fixed Wireless is a suitable alternative solution. The Fixed Line
core equipment is affordable to many service providers  but Its more
expensive to install Fixed Line Infrastructure in comparison to Fixed
Wireless especially in virgin areas.



   - *What are the current indicative market costs of fixed lines (phone
   and internet) in Uganda?*


The markets costs vary depending on the internet package one needs. You can
either have a shared broadband fixed line service (Contention based ) or
the dedicated bandwidth. Shared service would be cheaper than the dedicated
because its shared whereas dedicated is dedicated :-) The initial cost
(Setup fees, CPE) for FTTX is relatively prohibitive for the ordinary
person if on average is user is subscribing to 1Mbps dedicated. I have not
come across a shared broadband service (contention based) over FTTX. Fixed
Line over copper is way cheaper that that over FTTX.


Baldwin




On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 5:41 PM, Arthur B. Niwagaba <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Fixed wireless links are common in Uganda. I have one, and it's great.
> Who is your provider Kyle?
>
> It's more reliable than overhead fibre and I pay by the bit.
> How are they charging you and how much?
>
>
>
> On 21 March 2017 at 17:28, Kyle Spencer <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Fixed wireless links are common in Uganda. I have one, and it's great.
>> It's more reliable than overhead fibre and I pay by the bit.
>>
>> Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa have similarly low fixed-line
>> penetration numbers, and similarly high mobile penetration numbers.
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 5:07 PM, Arthur B. Niwagaba
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> > Thanks much for the insight. I though would like to hear from those with
>> > fixed lines from some providers...UTL, Airtel, Africell,MTN etc
>> >
>> > On 21 March 2017 at 16:54, Mark Tinka <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On 21/Mar/17 15:34, Arthur B. Niwagaba wrote:
>> >>
>> >> On average, how much can it cost, going by the leading providers of
>> FTTx
>> >> to office or home?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Depends on the market.
>> >>
>> >> On the low-end, it can be US$5/km/customer. On the high-end, it can be
>> >> US$30/km/customer. This is not including the electronics required to
>> power
>> >> the fibre, or even other logistical requirements like way leaves,
>> e.t.c.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Yes i have a mobile phone on 4G service. I am on average paying for UGX
>> >> 35,000 for 1GB, limited bundle.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> So you do have an Internet service :-). It might not be a fixed
>> service to
>> >> your home or office, but it is still an Internet service.
>> >>
>> >> Mark.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> > Arthur B. Niwagaba [Bsc, Msc, CEH, CISA, PRINCE2]
>> > Infosec and Forensics Consultant
>> > Tel: +256701-775370 <+256%20701%20775370> / +256773-730818
>> <+256%20773%20730818>
>> >
>> > "Electronic Crime must be contained"
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug
>> >
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>> > any way.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cell/WhatsApp/Signal: +256790884905
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to:
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>>
>> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM:
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>>
>> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including
>> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in
>> any way.
>>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Arthur B. Niwagaba [Bsc, Msc, CEH, CISA, PRINCE2]
>
> *Infosec and Forensics Consultant Tel: +256701-775370
> <+256%20701%20775370> / +256773-730818 <+256%20773%20730818>*
>
> *"Electronic Crime must be contained"*
>
> _______________________________________________
> The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug
>
> Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to:
> [email protected]
> Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
> Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug
> To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug
>
> The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM:
> http://www.infocom.co.ug/
>
> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including
> attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in
> any way.
>
_______________________________________________
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