AFRICA ONLINE SUPPORTED TECHNOLOGIES

Broadband Internet over Power Line

Africa Online is one of the few pioneering service providers providing broadband Internet access over power lines. The technology utilizes existing electrical infrastructure in your home to provide Internet access. All you need to do is plug your computer's network connection into your power socket, and you will be connected to the Internet. Access speeds are available from as low as 32Kbps to as high as 1Mbps, and more. Tests have been carried out in Ghana and we are exploring providing this as a commercial service shortly.

ADSL

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a common broadband access technology that utilizes existing telephone lines to provide Internet access. This technology also allows you to use the same telephone line to make and receive voice calls while connected to the Internet. Africa Online provides ADSL services as a means of opening up access to broadband Internet connectivity.

DVB

DVB (Digital Video Broadcast) is a satellite technology that allows you to receive high speed Internet access using a satellite connection. DVB is a one-way, downlink-only satellite technology, emphasizing download access on the satellite connection. In effect, it requires a separate connection to provide uplink connectivity. Access speeds range from as low as 64Kbps to as high as 45Mbps, or even 155Mbps. Africa Online is able to provide you or your business with this kind of connectivity, anywhere in and outside Africa.

VSAT

VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is 2-way satellite service that allows you to use a single satellite antenna to send and receive Internet transmissions at the same time. Africa Online's VSAT solutions use highly available international satellite carrier services to ensure your investment is working for you, all day, everyday. Access speeds can range from as low as 64Kbps to 45Mbps, or even 155Mbps.

Africa Online use three different types of VSAT technologies:

1. SCPC or SCPC up and DVB down
2. TDMA (e.g. Idirect,Viasat, Gilat, etc.)
3. DAMA / Mesh for the sake of interconnecting Africa /Africa with single hop.

VPN's

VPN's (Virtual Private Networks) are a security solution offered by Africa Online. VPN's allow you to send and receive sensitive, private and confidential data across the Internet without it being compromised or seen by anyone else along the Internet transmission path. This ensures that you can always connect to your corporate or home network from anywhere in the world, using a basic Internet connection, and remain confident that your data is safe and secure.

MPLS

MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) is a standards-approved technology used for speeding up network traffic flow within the service providers backbone and making it easier to manage traffic. MPLS can be used to provide clients with QoS (Quality of Service), CoS (Class of Service), TE (Traffic Engineering), and other similar features whose sole purpose is to ensure that clients that require such a service are able to get the access speed they or their businesses require, regardless of the whether the backbone network is congested or not.

MPLS also has extensions to support VPN's, where VPN's can be created over the MPLS network to ensure that data is protected and secured as it traverses the Internet. 

Africa Online is rigorously deploying its MPLS network across all its 8 operations, and will interconnect with other leading providers' MPLS backbones within Africa and the rest of the world, to ensure our clients get the most out of their MPLS service

Broadband Wireless

In order to extend broadband Internet access to consumers, Africa Online deploys wireless broadband networks providing both Mobile and fixed wireless solutions. Africa Online is endeavoring to keep access costs at an acceptable level. Our wireless connectivity is capable of providing dedicated and shared access speeds from 32Kbps up to 1Mbps, and more.

VoIP

This is a technology that enables one to make analog calls through the internet.
The VoIP (Voice over IP) protocol allows you to make and receive phone calls through your broadband Internet connection using a standard touch-tone phone
There are 3 main causes for the evolution of the Voice over IP market:

• Low cost phone calls
• Add-on services and unified messaging
• Merging of data/voice infrastructures

With VoIP, a subscriber will enjoy free calls on-net calls and cheap off-net (international) calls to other destinations of the world.

 ISDN

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a technology that allows its users to access data and voice services at the same time, on the same line. Africa Online offers high speed ISDN services using state-of-the-art access servers, and provide speeds of 64Kbps or 128Kbps.

Dial-Up Connectivity

Africa Online offers dial-up connectivity in all eight countries of operation. Africa Online operates state-of-the-art dial-up access servers that allow access speeds up to 56Kbps. The access servers are also capable of adjusting the connection speed based on the quality of the line, so that dropped calls are minimized or eliminated altogether.

Other Methods

Africa Online use fiber and frame relay, Channelized E1s and Point to Point wireless or terrestrial links.