Broadband for All:
Infrastructure Sharing
rtunities and Benefits
older Validation Workshop
20-21 2015
n, Johannesburg, South Africa
sive Communications (APC)
ructure Priorities (1)
Optic fibre links between neighboring countries –
 International submarine cable landings – access
 Competitively priced and reliable national backbo

nfrastructure
s (2)
Middle-mile fibre infrastructure reaching smaller
 High capacity links from wireless base stations to
 Affordable choices in fixed and mobile retail broa
 Efficient low-cost interconnection, including betw

nfrastructure
nges
Expensive international, national and last-mile access
 Duplication of infrastructure => high overall finance n
 Low levels of competition
 Low ICT skills and awareness of new technology opt
 Low income levels and economies of scale
 High network costs (import duties, taxes, power, lice
 Limited financing due to low returns on investment, h
and Institutional Frameworks (1)
Direct Stakeholders:
 Government – policy makers
 Telecom Operators – fixed, m
 Lit Fibre Cables
 Internet Access Providers
 Copper cables
 Radios & Satellites
 Data Centre Operators
 Switches & Routers
 Exchange Points (IXPs)
 Servers & Storage
 Content providers
 Numbering and IP addresses/ASNs
 Civil Society & Consumer As
 Interconnection
 between networks
ISO Layers 1-4:
Passive / Linear/ Utility Infrastructure
Land & Rights of
 Way (ROW)
 Ducts and Dark
 Fibre
 Sites, Masts & Poles
 Radio Spectrum
 Satellite Orbital slots
 Energy, AirCon &
 Housing

Primary stakeholders:






Governments & Regulators
Land Owners
Dark Fibre & Mast Operators
Utility Infrastructure Operators
Various national and local auth
People living/working in close
Cost effective access to passive/utility infrastructure is vital to
Major Benefits of Infrastructure Sharing
Reduced Opex and Capex &
Release of capital assets
Lower barriers to entry
increase competition
Lower asset duplication:
Expansion of network and
coverage
Lower service
prices
Reduced visual and
environmental impact
Increase in take up and
connectivity
Source: APC/Deloitte Study 2015
Economic & Social
Benefits
Scope & Ease of Infrastructure Sharing
Scope of Infrastructure sharing
Ease of Infrastructure sharing
LAND AND
BUILDINGS
New construction :
• Civil works
• Roads, powerlines
& gas, water and
oil pipelines
• Rights of way
TELECOM
INFRASTRUCURE
• Kerbs and inbuilding
• Ducts
• Poles
OTHER SECTORS
INFRASTRUCTURE
• Sewage /water
systems
• Sites
• Masts
• Dark fibre
• Railroads
• Wavelength
• Power grids
• Active network
elements
• Roads
• Gas and oil
pipelines
Source: APC/Deloitte Study 2015
• Civil engineering
works of other
operators
Easier sharing
• Building and
housing estates
• Existing sites and
masts
• Existing rail links &
powerlines fibre
• Existing telecom
fibre networks
• Local loop of
existing operators
Harder sharing
Mast Sharing





Among the most common forms of infras
High site establishment costs and enviro
Absence of grid power and the high cape
Operators may implement this through re
Universal service funded towers are usua
Mobile network sharing can go beyond masts
Across a network of 10,
Source: Deloitte
Source: Vodafone
twork Sharing
il
n
s
Retail service for residential and business
Wholesale Active Network providing structured transmission capacity
ices
Dark Fibre, Power
Air Con, Tubes, Ducts, Room, Trenches
ve
n
es
gs, etc
Rights of Way
mplesMost Metro Networks
Source: NSRC
Dark Fibre Africa
Parkhurst
Project
Community
Link Fibre
Kampala
Many Govt Backbones
Duct Sharing
In fibre deployment 70-80% o
A variety of models:
 Highway authority as duct o
 Outsourced independent pr
 Telco shares ducts with
 other operators
ts of Way
•
•
•
•
Image source: Kictanet
Gaining access to rights of way (ROW)
Massive savings can be made by imple
Coordinating network roll-out with roa
Often seen as a revenue stream by the
Facilities
Competition
Unbundled
Network
Elements
Open Access
Key Policy Issues for Infrastructure Sharing (1

Passive infrastructure sharing requirements
Making sharing a condition of financing

Telco infrastructure sharing requirements as p
Regulations to allow any operator the right to

Ensuring new fibre and mast buildouts compl
E.g universal service fund requirements but could
Key Policy Issues for Infrastructure Sharing (2
In-building planning requirements
Ensuring ducts are in all new public buildings
 Supporting active infrastructure sharing – wholesa
Wholesale fibre (including open access landing
 Duct sharing policies & dig-once land-use planning

Public Works Policies, Communication regulator
Key Policy Issues for Infrastructure Sharing (3



Limit cost and procedures for rights of way
Pole, municipal ROW and premises mast site
Simplified cross-border digging procedures
One stop shops for permitting
Supporting infrastructure buildout co-ordination
Multi-sectoral infrastructure databases and GIS
ank you!
r Progressive Communications
ttp://www.apc.org
access@apc.org