African researchers in line for high-speed network

The European Union has committed substantial financial backing to to the tune of €14.75 million to link up African researchers via a high-speed computer intranet. The four-year AfricaConnect project will connect national and research education networks (NRENs) in Africa and link them to Europe's multi-gigabit research and education network, GÉANT. "What this means is much easier and much faster access to online learning and research resources nationally, regionally and internationally for African researchers and students," said Francis Tusubira, chief executive of the UbuntuNet Alliance, an association of eastern and southern African NRENs. This initiative will be coordinated by Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe (DANTE), a non-profit umbrella body owned by European NRENs. DANTE will work with the UbuntuNet Alliance and with West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) to cover other regions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The contract was signed last month in Botswana.