Connectivity and infrastructure

The need

Without reliable links between sites, people and systems, no other service works. In Angola this includes remote areas where terrestrial infrastructure is limited or absent.

Intended outcome

Sites interconnected with the capacity, redundancy and monitoring each location needs, and a foundation ready for the other services.

Scope

• Internet access and IP (Internet Protocol) transit, with dedicated or shared bandwidth.
• Private networks between sites, including MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching).
• VSAT (very small aperture terminal) satellite communications for sites without a terrestrial alternative.
• Redundant links and failover to an alternative link.
• Connection to data centres and to private or public cloud environments where the project requires it.
• Link monitoring and usage reports.

Deliverables

• A survey of sites and capacity requirements.
• A network design showing redundancy and single points of failure.
• Installation, configuration and acceptance tests for each link.
• Documentation of addressing, configurations and support contacts.
• Regular usage and availability reports.

Deployment options

Terrestrial links (optical fibre and microwave) or satellite, depending on the site. Links serve the client's premises, data centres or cloud environments; the choice follows performance, security, cost and maintenance requirements.

Limits and dependencies

• Coverage and speeds depend on the site and on capacity providers; they are confirmed by a technical survey before any proposal.
• The applicable service levels are those written into the contract for each link.
• On-premises computing and links to third-party cloud environments may involve partners or suppliers, who are named in the proposal.
• Infrastructure shared with other clients cannot be transferred; public IP addresses assigned by IP World only move with the client if the contract provides for it.

Continuity and exit

Reversibility deliverables for this service, set out in the contract and updated before exit:

Data and export formats

Inventory of the client's links and addressing plan in open formats (for example CSV, comma-separated values, and plain text).

Documentation

Complete documentation of the configurations and architecture of the client's network, with operating and recovery procedures for dedicated equipment.

Configurations

Copies of the configurations of equipment dedicated to the client; this excludes infrastructure shared with other clients.

Responsibilities

A responsibility matrix covering the client, IP World and capacity providers.

Licences and contracts

Transfer and regularisation of the associated licences and contracts, with the list of equipment and the holder of each.

Knowledge transfer

Hands-on sessions with the client's team or the incoming provider.