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Bandwidth Utilization Challenges in Nigerian Universities

Bandwidth Utilization Challenges in Nigerian Universities. A Case Study Of Federal University Of Technology, Akure, Nigeria Dahunsi, Folasade Mojisola <fmdahunsi@futa.edu.ng>. Nigerian Universities.

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Bandwidth Utilization Challenges in Nigerian Universities

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  1. Bandwidth Utilization Challenges in Nigerian Universities A Case Study Of Federal University Of Technology, Akure, Nigeria Dahunsi, Folasade Mojisola <fmdahunsi@futa.edu.ng>

  2. 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)

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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 student’s enrolment is over 10,000 while the total staffing position is over 1,600.

  7. 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.

  8. 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

  9. Challengescond.. • Large downloads can’t 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. What I need - Advice - Research materials and equipment - Collaborators to work with

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