CSQUARED

CSQUARED

Unleashing what’s possible

C S Q U A R E D

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A Better Way to

Connect CSquared continues to thrive as a social enabler for the digital age as its shared infrastructure model reaches multiple markets across sub-Saharan Africa Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Kane Weller

Squared’s metro fibre capabilities and extensive Wi-Fi network continues to help local providers connect more seamlessly and broadly to the internet and, resultantly, each other.

Initiating as a Google-driven project in 2012 called Project Link, the mission back then was to develop the missing link in Uganda’s fibre segment.

Heading straight for Kampala, the country’s capital was greeted with the deployment of fibre in 2013, and this kick-started a venture which has since taken the business now-knownas CSquared into Ghana in 2015 and Liberia in 2018.

Chief Technology Officer, Bhavesh Mistry picks up the story: “In May 2017 Google announced the spin-off of CSquared into an independent company with four shareholders: Convergence Partners, Google, IFC and Mitsui & Co. The intention of separating CSquared was to leverage on the experience and knowledge of other investors who are active in Africa and give the Company the needed independence to expand into new markets with a war-chest of US$100 million.

“CSquared has since established itself as a wholesale broadband infrastructure company focused on building fibre infrastructure.”

Encompassed within this status as a wholesale infrastructure provider, the Company’s focus now revolves around enabling mobile network operators (MNOs) and internet service providers (ISPs) to deliver broadband services to critical areas and end users in greatest need of such technological enrichment.

Ultimately serving as a source of social upliftment in the digital age, demand for CSquared’s service offering is in no doubt, and unsurprisingly the Company has expanded its footprint exponentially as a consequence.

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SOLITON

Building Networks For Life

Network Planning and Design We develop customized solutions for IP, SDH, DWDM, Access Network Systems, Simulation and Testing for Carriers and service providers.

We have built capacity to design networks for FTTx and IP Network infrastructure.

Network Deployment We promptly deliver all network needs with our experts team using modern equipment. We provide solutions across key technologies including: Local Area Network Deployment, Datacenter Solutions, Servers and Storage Area Networks, WAN, Dark Fiber connectivity and Unified communication solutions.

Network Support and Maintenance We have a 24/7 NOC and a competent field team to support carriers’ fiber optic network.

Guaranteed MTTR through fiber monitoring tools backed by a 24/7 NOC to support our customers’ fiber optic networks.

Network Documentation

Network Support Tools

We engage in proper presentation of cable routes, devices used, connection points and fiber distribution procedures. We develop network documentation using state of the art GIS technologies to capture, store, analyse, manage and present data that refers to a linked location in an easy to query format.

Through our partners, EXFO and Fujikura, we offer various optic testing instruments and system configurations such as Field Network Testing tools, fiber/ copper inspection, Network protocol testing, spectral testing, Network Analysers, Active and passive probes, splicing machines and more.

Contact Us Uganda Lourdel House, 1st Floor Plot 1 Lourdel Road Nakasero Kampala, Uganda Tel:

+256 700 777003 +256 794 427742 Email: info@soliton.co.ug info@soliton.co.ke +256 200 501600 Kenya Soliton Park North Airport Road, Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya Tel:

+254 724 652222 +254 733 652222 Email: info@soliton.co.ke

www.soliton.co.ke

C S Q U A R E D

Faster, more reliable access Of the more than seven billion people in the world, fewer than half are connected to the internet. And for many who are online, inadequate or non-existent infrastructure offers slow and unreliable connections.

CSquared was launched to bring faster, more reliable internet to the people and places that need it. We first built a metro fibre network in the city of Kampala, Uganda, a dense urban centre that was limited to prebroadband speeds. Since then, we have expanded CSquared to Ghana, where have built more than 900 kilometres of fibre in Accra, Tema and Kumasi.

In Uganda, we also offer wholesale last-mile Wi-Fi access. ISPs and MNOs leverage our network to bring high-quality Wi-Fi to homeowners, small businesses and mobile users on-the-go. We continue to explore opportunities for expanding CSquared Wi-Fi networks to future markets.

Enhanced connectivity across Kampala

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Mistry elaborates: “Currently CSquared has more than 1,500 sites, these being a combination of towers and enterprise buildings connected on its fibre across Uganda and Ghana. Most of our sites are towers belonging to MNOs but a significant portion are enterprises - both high-end corporates and small and medium-sized businesses which are served through various ISPs.”

Ahead of the curve

In essence, CSquared has fostered a mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship between itself and its customers (the ISPs and MNOs).

Each customer is dependent on CSquared’s infrastructural development in order to grow, and in turn, CSquared’s ongoing prevalence is dependent on each ISP and MNO’s success.

“Therefore, we are constantly listening to their needs in the market, whether that is the need to introduce new product offerings that are in line with market trends, or reviewing service levels,” Mistry says. “We have a team dedicated to reviewing customer feedback and requests, so we can stay abreast of the latest technological advancements, to ensure CSquared is ahead of the curve.”

Soliton soaring beyond 10 years Soliton Telmec has been a major partner of CSquared since inception in 2013 to date.

With this partnership we have been able to provide the required engineering services ranging from survey, design, construction, maintenance and support.

We have delivered over 850 KM covering major roads and trading centers within the Greater Kampala area. With C Squared’s guidance have been able to connect 1,500 sites for various providers, majorly corporates on behalf of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

Our 24/7 support and maintenance services are backed by strict SLAs and as such we deployed on the CSquared infrastructure high network quality monitoring solution that enables end to end visibility on every aspect on this complex service delivery infrastructure through the use of real time automated testing and monitoring solutions.

Regardless of the complexity of her network CSquared is able to get the right position of the fault locations in real time As the network grew, the complexity of the fiber circuits, inventory management, network designs and operations become more complex. In a bid to overcome the complexities, we recently implemented for CSquared a Fiber Optic Network Management system that enables them to clearly visualize their assets, make the designing of any future network expansion easier and keep track of the daily network changes.

About Soliton Telmec Soliton Telmec is regional company operating in East Africa headquartered in Nairobi, with presence in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Djibouti. Operating in the entire East African region, we work across the telecommunication spectrum from need analysis, conceptual design to maintenance and service connection. Through building,

delivering and supporting lead-edge communication infrastructure of any complexity, Soliton is focused on enabling individuals, businesses and communities access telecommunication services.

What we do • Design, rollout and maintenance of fiber optic networks • Data center development and transmission systems • Data center services: Managed services, disaster recovery & collocation • Unified communication and networking services • Service assurance systems and solutions • Simulation laboratory and Training Services • NOC (Network Operator Centre) Services in Nairobi and Uganda • Authorized Sales and Support Centre for: EXFO, Fujikura, Juniper, Fiber home, Corning & IBM solutions.

• Supply and Installation of Datacom and IT equipment e.g. switches, routers, racks etc • IT services: LAN, WAN connectivity for enterprises • Turnkey managed services of communication infrastructure: • Leased Capacity • Back hauling • Internet Services:- Internet connectivity, DNS and smart host services • VPN solutions for both private and public • Dark Fiber • Collocation Services

T +256 700 777001 E info@soliton.co.ug

www.soliton.co.ke

C S Q U A R E D

ATX TECHNOLOGY

A lightspeed network CSquared enables ISPs and MNOs to provide high-quality broadband at lower costs through shared infrastructure such as metro fibre and Wi-Fi networks. Our shared infrastructure model means we work alongside our customers, building networks they can leverage to provide better services to end users.

We have seen how connecting Kampala to existing long-distance fibre lines has helped to provide the city with a foundation for growth and help more people get online. We are excited to see similar growth in Ghana.

A

TX Technology is a leading contractor in Uganda providing infrastructure installation and construction services for telecoms service providers, OEM vendors and power utility companies. We create value for our customers and make a difference by providing affordable, high quality, speedy services in a safe manner.

We have been a key partner for CSquared in Uganda providing design, materials, installation and maintenance services for the rollout of a Wi-Fi metropolitan network covering the greater Kampala area. We currently support a total of 212 Wi-Fi sites. Our close cooperation with CSquared and a comprehensive service level agreement ensures that we provide CSquared with a high-quality network which in turn ensures that CSquared can provide a world-class service to its customers.

We typically work on ICT and powerline network rollouts, swapouts, refurbishments and maintenance projects as well as horizontal drilling and boring projects for water utilities and road construction companies.

similar applications for utilities and we are in discussions with various partners keen to deploy smart cities and special economic zones across multiple markets.

“Our priority is to build the right shared infrastructure from the start.”

At present, such trends include the opportunity to supply fibre to the home (FTTH) and the Company has responded in kind by launching a pilot FTTH project in Uganda this year.

Mistry details: “This is being done on a wholesale basis to maximise the uptake and the impact on the market.

In addition to FTTH, there is a role for fibre in smart metering and other

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Important for national development

Notions of enrichment are evident within the confines of the business too, as part of its equally pertinent mission to be a company driven by motivated individuals who are given license to nurture and thrive in an “open, fun and productive working environment”.

“We work in a very demanding industry and so it is important to keep staff motivated and healthy.

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ATX Technology offers telecom services and products encompassing supply and installation of equipment for your core network, transmission network, access network and Customer Premise Equipment (CPE).

ATX Technology provides power line construction services for electric utilities, municipal authorities, government agencies and private developers of domestic, industrial and commercial premises.

ATX Technology carries out construction of infrastructure for utility companies and municipal authorities. We do site survey and site engineering, tower erection and painting, equipment rooms and shelters, minor roadworks and various concrete works and horizontal drilling and boring works.

T +256790912955 E sales@atxtechnology.com

www.atxtechnology.com

High Quality, Affordable Cost, Speedy Delivery, Safe Work Practices ATX Technology Ltd, 2 Nakasero Hill Road, P.O. Box 10026 Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256790912955 Email: sales@atxtechnology.com Website: www.atxtechnology.com

C S Q U A R E D

We achieve this through a dedicated programme focused on staff wellbeing,” Mistry explains, alluding to the influence of internal HR procedures on external business success. “We are also working on an internship programme that will provide university students an opportunity to gain handson experience within various functions of the organisation.”

CSquared’s business philosophy comes from a belief that every company and individual is responsible for their environment and stakeholders. From a corporate social responsibility perspective, despite being a relatively new company, CSquared has stayed true to this ethos by establishing a tailored programme; which will be unveiled in its

full form over the coming months.

This will compound efforts that have already begun among its team of volunteers who invest their time and efforts into mentoring school children, with a natural focus on IT, as well as supporting clean-up exercises in its immediate surroundings.

Finally, from an education perspective, “we have research and education collaborations among universities and research institutions as they are important for national development”, Mistry adds.

“CSquared has supported the same through providing RENU (Research and Education network for Uganda) last-mile connectivity to all tertiary institutions in the country.”

Unleashing what’s possible

Back in the business realm, and forward-thinking technical developments are a continuous process. Over the past two years alone, the Company has focused on expanding its network in Uganda and Ghana so as to connect more areas of each country to fibre.

Meanwhile, in Monrovia, Liberia, in January, CSquared launched its metro fibre deployment in the country, with a view to it going live in July of this year.

“By working closely with the MNOs and ISPs, we are able to support their efforts to strengthen their network, ensuring they are able to offer a better quality of service to their customers,” Mistry adds from a network speed

“By working closely with the MNOs and ISPs, we are able to support their efforts to strengthen their network, ensuring they are able to offer a better quality of service to their customers”

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Sunshine Service equals Sunshine Smiles We create food thoughtfully and purposefully, in order to nourish the mind and body.

Tel: +233 302 780599 sunshinesaladsghana@gmail.com www.sunshinesaladbar.com

Enhanced connectivity for Accra

point of view. “Network enhancement is an ongoing priority for CSquared and will continue through expansion of our network and adoption of the latest technologies in the future.”

CSquared best sums up its vision by “unleashing what’s possible” and

is helping cities like Kampala and Accra to realise what is possible with enhanced connectivity. The Company goes on to explain that with better connections and expanded network capacities, local providers will be supported in “building a stronger web

in Africa and around the world”.

Mistry concludes: “Within subSaharan Africa and outside of South Africa, CSquared is the only pure wholesale infrastructure operator.

This is our key differentiator and aligns with our belief that it is only through sharing of infrastructure that the telecoms market will be able to keep up with the ever-growing demand for data, improved reliability and flexible pricing from consumers.

“We are currently looking at a number of other countries in Africa where there is insufficient fibre available to meet the needs of the market. It is important that these markets are politically and economically stable with the potential of strong commercial returns and developmental impact.

“Ultimately we see ourselves playing a significant role in bringing the shared infrastructure model to multiple markets across the sub-Saharan Africa region.”

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CSquared Ltd (Uganda) Road, Accra, Ghana 1st Floor ICA Building, 6th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia info@csquared.com

www.csquared.com

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