This important session will explore how innovations in technology and business models have created a viable opportunity for MNOs and ISPs to extend their service into previously unconnected areas while ensuring economic viability. We have a mix of technology and service provider perspectives
2. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
Contents:
1
3
4
3
Background / Who we are
The CSquared Competitive Advantage
CSquared by the numbers
4
Practical Steps for Future Proof
Networks
4. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
Background / Who we are
4
Strong shareholder backing: $100 million to be invested in Africa
● Wholesale, open-access FTTx provider
● Serves ISPs (Internet Service Providers) & MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) only
● Versatile product range: Dark fiber, & Lit fiber (layer 2 & layer 3) to provide backhaul &
last-mile connections for MNOs & ISPs
● Flexible & adaptive pricing models to encourage growth
● Able to layer on technologies & services enabled by fiber (e.g., WiFi, small cells, etc)
to deliver more value to MNOs
● Connected to Towers via MNO partnerships
5. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
The CSquared Competitive Advantage
5
CSquared is a technology company, making
commercially driven investments into
broadband-enabling infrastructure throughout
Africa.
By investing in internet infrastructure and
making it available to local Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) and Mobile Network Operators
(MNOs), CSquared helps bring high-quality
broadband access to Africa’s major cities.
✓ Trusted partner in Africa
✓ Operational efficiencies at all levels
✓ 100% regulatory & tax compliant
✓ 99.999% Service Level Availability
✓ Strong financial backing via diversified
shareholder base
✓ Adapted Google ethos in terms of policies &
processes
✓ Ability to navigate the African landscape with
presence in East, Central & West Africa
✓ Long-term commitment to Africa due to strong
shareholding.
While a basic connection is useful when it
comes to Internet access, abundant, affordable
broadband can transform communities and
help people make the most of opportunities
online.
6. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
CSquared by the numbers
6
Manholes, handholes, and
breakout points for quick
connection of sites
Customer sites connected on
our fiber: base stations,
enterprises, SMEs, etc
Km of metro fiber in Uganda,
Ghana, Liberia & Kenya (HQ)
Customers using CSquared
infrastructure: MNOs, ISPs,
and 4G/LTE operators
For more info: www.csquared.com
7. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
What We Have Done in Uganda
7
• Launched in Q4 2013
• Fiber network in Greater Kampala metro (2M+ population)
• Extensive City wide Wifi Network (Launched Q4 2015)
• 1000+ km of fiber, 2500+ handholes
• 1300+ customer sites (base stations, buildings, etc)
• 19 signed customers: top 3 MNOs, 4G players, ISPs
UGANDA
Kampala & Entebbe
8. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
What We Have Done in Ghana
8
• Launched in Q3 2015
• Fiber metro in 5 cities: Accra, Tema, Kasoa, Kumasi, Takoradi
• 2000+ km of fiber, 5 Products
• 1000+ customer sites
• 23 signed customers: Top 2 MNOs, 4G players, many ISPs
• GridCo: 15yr Partnership with National Power Company, 858km Backbone fiber [#ConnectingGhana]
• BNC: 2115 sites Integrated National Security Communications Enhancement Network Project.
GHANA
Accra + Tema Kumasi
9. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
What We Have Done in Liberia
• Launched in Q3 2017
• All MNOs signed as customers. Largest fiber network available in country
• Partnership with USAID and the Government of Liberia, to support building of
infrastructure, digitization initiative, and economic development in the capital
Monrovia
• 200+ km of metro fiber in Monrovia;
• Connecting 200+ sites: Towers, Government offices, Educational & Health care
institutions, Businesses
• Build a 350Kms backbone from Monrovia to Danane (WIP)
9
LIBERIA
Fiber blowing Hub Rack installed
Thrust boring - HDD Machine Monrovia
12. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
IAD - Innovation Africa Digital
Practical Steps for Future Proof Networks panel - IAD Summit
How to encourage service providers, and the industry at large to, reduce the cost of access to ICT
13. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
IAD Summit - Practical Steps for Future Proof Networks panel
How to encourage service providers, and the industry at large to, reduce the cost of access to ICT
A1: Cost of access is a direct function of cost of provision
● Access Cost of capital/Patience capital for investment
● Encourage Zero Marginal cost models
● Build Cloud initiatives/ Edge Cloud Models
● Encourage Network Agnostic Frameworks
● Policy Makers provide the right investment freely environment
● Access to public funded assets
● Removal of Cross border barriers
14. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
IAD Summit - Practical Steps for Future Proof Networks panel
○
● Suggested Approach:
○ Think integrated/holistic rather than silo-wise especially from an industry
perspective
○ Road, Power, Rail and Water Infra vis a vis ICT infra
○ ICT infra reserves/way leaves provided for proactively
○ Provide incentives for those who share infrastructure
○ Spectrum Management should discourage hoarding and all anti-competitive
behaviours
○ Consistent Tax Policy (e.g OTT policies, Internet tax)
15. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
IAD Summit - Practical Steps for Future Proof Networks panel
● Strategies that are increasing broadband penetration across the continent include:
○ Regulatory reforms: The World Bank has been involved in the Broadband progress in developing countries via a
number of strategies. These include: Sector policy & regulatory reforms; loans and grants for broadband; and
partnering for broadband.
○ Policy Reforms: With well-designed interventions, multisector partnerships, policy reforms and through the
efforts of the World Bank, its donors, partners and client countries, affordable broadband access is becoming a
reality for more communities in Africa and across the globe.
○
○ M&As: An organisation’s organic growth is necessary for broadband penetration, however, not always sufficient.
Penetration will not be optimal without Partnerships,Collaborations, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A).
○ PPP: Recent PPPs in digital infrastructure to expand broadband access in frontier markets have taken place in
several countries including: Burundi, DR Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda, São Tomé and
Príncipe, and Togo.
■ Ref:
http:/
/www.worldbank.org/en/topic/digitaldevelopment/brief/connecting-for-inclusion-broadband-access-for-all
16. Confidential & Proprietary
| C Squared
IAD Summit - Practical Steps for Future Proof Networks panel
● Our optimism
for the future development of connectivity infrastructure across Africa, and the role CSquared can play
○ We are quite confident.
○ Africa is maintaining its position as the fastest growing region in terms of internet usage, though data volumes
remain lower than other parts of the world. We expect this trend to aggressively continue.
● Some facts:
○ Africa currently utilizes 3% of the 94.4 Terabytes of data delivered and activated by the submarine cable
companies.
○ Development of the terrestrial network and making this accessible and affordable is key to growing the digital
economies of all African countries
