Analysis of the Serengeti Broadband Network

Internet access is intermittent and very expensive in remote areas in the developing world. The access is still mainly provided via satellite links to other continents and, although the transition to terrestrial networks has started, it will take time to reach the under-served areas. To understand the local needs and traffic patterns in rural areas, we have analyzed Internet web traffic logs captured over a year from a municipal network deployed in remote areas in Tanzania. The web traffic logs analysis was complemented by user surveys on their actual usage. Our analysis reveals that popularity of social networking and news websites increases over time.We have noticed many other contents such as advertisements which we consider not relevant to developing regions but consume the little bandwidth they have. Based on the insights gained from the analysis, we have provided recommendations on how to optimize the little bandwidth available. Further, we have deployed some of the recommendations in the current system.