Performance analysis of phase one of the national ICT broadband backbone

In this dissertation the performance of the phase one of the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) has been explored. Data used in design of the NICTBB and data obtained from measurements done on nodes around the Northern ring were used in analysis to observe the deviations. NICTBB uses ring topology with a data rate of 10 Gbps. The backbone uses a Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) system with Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFA). The cable standards used are Standard Single Mode Fiber (SSMF) 652B and 652D (24/48cores). The data rate used is 10 Gbps per wavelength channel. The access network uses Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH). The analysis was done by evaluating four parameters; Optical Signal to Noise Ratio (OSNR), Power, Jitter and Bit Error Rate. It was observed that after a distance of 130 kms, the OSNR values fell below the threshold values (10-11 BER); hence the need to place EDFA at 130 kms. The designed attenuation was found to be 0.0176dB/km while the measured attenuation was 0.10dB/km. The causes for deviations were identified which includes attenuations due to splicing losses, fiber layouts, connectors and fiber bending, others are polarization mode dispersion, signal spontaneous noise generated by EDFA. The service outage was caused by loose connections and vandalism. Recommendations on how to minimize them are given.