Telkom, the second national operator, Verizon and Sentech will be the most serious contenders for a R90 million tender - to be issued before the end of June - for infrastructure deployment in the planned South African National Research Network (Sanren).
This is according to Nhlanhla Nyide, the science and technology department`s chief director of communications, who says those four companies "have indicated an interest in submitting a bid".
Sanren is a high-speed network that will enable the exchange of research data between South African research institutions.
"It is for researchers to use and share information among one another," explains Nyide.
The first phase of the project is scheduled to begin at the end of the year, assuming the tender process flows smoothly, and forms R22 million of the tender. The second phase for further deployments will begin in about March 2007, and is worth R67 million, he adds.
UbuntuNet connection
Science and technology minister Mosibudi Mangena said during his budget speech last Friday that one of the department`s flagship projects is the UbuntuNet project, which will link Sanren to Europe via the Geant connection.
"The first phase of implementing this network has begun with a total funding of R178 million over the medium-term," Mangena told Parliament.
He also said the science and technology department had received an increase for research and development of R1.2 billion.
Part of telescope bid
It is expected the completed network will connect about 45 South African institutions through a 10GB national backbone, and a 2.5GB international connection to similar research networks overseas.
The development of Sanren also forms an integral part of SA`s bid to host the R10 billion square kilometre array radio telescope.
The department was unable to provide further details on UbuntuNet, the Geant connection or Sanren this week.
Related story:
R10bn telescope bid on track
Share
