EVALUATING CAPACITY UTILIZATION IN SUBMARINE OPTIC FIBRE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Abstract:ABSTRACT
The advent of submarine optical fibre cable
established the most effective medium of communication in terms of data
carriage capacity, immunity to interference, low drop calls amongst many
others. In the light of these outstanding breakthrough, developing economies
are yet to maximize the utilization of the wealth of data deposit at their
landing stations. The utilization of submarine optic fibre capacity and
broadband access in a developing economy was investigated using the West
African Cable System (WACS) and its Lekki Cable Landing Station in Nigeria as a
case study. The broadband ecosystem model is employed to determine capacity
utilization from Lekki Cable Landing Station. At the International connectivity
level, a nodal, port utilization analysis and backhaul provider profile was
used to provide measurement criteria for submarine system capacity utilization.
Capacity utilization of submarine optic fibre communications route is
calculated in Minimum Assignable Units (MAU) of activated capacity in STM-1 (Synchronous Transport Module level-1) by distance of navigation. The International connectivity segment of broadband
supply chain was calculated and found to be optimally available at 99.13% for
broadband access and end user experience. The terrestrial backhaul suffers from
poor availability occasioned by the fluctuating state of the terrestrial fibre
infrastructure in Nigeria, thereby impeding broadband penetration in the
country.