Telecommunications

decision analysis partners was awarded a feasibility study project for the expansion of a Sub-Saharan telecommunications carrier’s network.  The expansion includes the construction of a 1,600-kilometer fiber backbone network and expanding fixed broadband services, including fiber or fixed wireless networks, across up to 32 cities and towns. The carrier’s project aims to significantly enhance internet access and connectivity throughout the country, particularly in underserved regions.

The feasibility study’s implementation plan includes two primary components : the construction of the nationwide fiber backbone ring and the expansion of fixed broadband access networks. The fiber backbone ring will connect major cities, providing backhaul capacity for the carrier’s access networks and offering wholesale bandwidth to other mobile network operators (MNOs) and internet service providers (ISPs). The fixed broadband access networks will build on existing deployments to extend fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services to eight initial cities and up to 24 additional towns, using a combination of fiber and fixed wireless solutions based on economic viability.

The objective of the accompanying Study is to evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of these expansion plans, ensuring that the carrier’s network growth is sustainable and effective in increasing internet penetration across the country. The Feasibility Study is designed to guide decisions on the deployment of fiber and fixed wireless networks, ensuring that the expansion is both technically sound and economically viable, particularly in regions where income levels may not support direct fiber investments.