Connected OFCity Challenge: Addressing the Digital Divide in the Developing World

Abstract

The development of Information and Communications Technology has provided over the past 50 years unprecedented support to the steady economic growth of developed countries. In recent years, some of the largest growths have been reported in emerging economies, which however often lack adequate telecommunications infrastructure to further sustain their development. Although a number of service and vendor providers have started to address the issue, the challenges they encounter are substantially different from those in the developed world, including unreliable electricity grid, poor fibre infrastructure, low revenue expectations and harsh climate environment. This paper reports use cases and solutions pertinent to the development of networking infrastructure in emerging economies, provided by organisations directly involved in such activities. After providing some background information on the current state of network infrastructure and main challenges for Africa and rural China, the paper provides details on two solutions proposed by the Alibaba infrastructure group and ZTE, respectively. The first is focused around the provisioning of services and network infrastructure through the development of low-cost Data Centers, while the second proposes cost-effective adaptation of both fibre and hybrid copper-fibre technology to rural areas. Finally the article is concluded with a brief discussion on the complementarity of the two approaches proposed.

Intelligent Traffic Engineering for 6G Heterogeneous Transport Networks

“…This process adheres to the strict requirements of Data Center Interconnects (DCIs) [9]. A study by Ruffini et al reported a state-of-the-art passive optical network (PON) technology (NG-PON2) [10]. The study effectively performed the convergence process in a single PON infrastructure.…”

Toward Access Equality: Bridging the Digital Divide

“…It exists also in some of the largest growing and emerging economies where adequate infrastructures are not available. Cases in Africa and rural China have been studied in this regard and innovative solutions are possible, whether for green-field scenarios or for others where legacy-copper infrastructures may be upgraded [10].…”