Johnson, David LVan Stam, G2017-06-072017-06-072016-12Johnson, D.L. and Van Stam, G. 2016. The shortcomings of globalised internet technology in Southern Africa. 8th EAI International Conference on e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Developing Countries (AFRICOMM), 6-7 December 2016, Ouagadougou, Burkina Fasohttp://africommconference.org/2016/show/program-finalhttp://hdl.handle.net/10204/92318th EAI International Conference on e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Developing Countries (AFICOMM), 6-7 December 2016, Ouagadougou, Burkina FasoNetwork protocols and applications have mostly been developed in and for a Western context and usually have an embedded set of assumptions about network performance and availability. As a result web-browsing, cloud-based services, live voice and video over IP, desktop applications and software updates often fail or perform poorly in (rural) areas of Southern Africa. This paper uncovers some of the reasons for this poor performance such as Windows TCP failing to reach capacity in high-delay networks, long DNS delays or time-outs and applications such as Office365 assuming constant connectivity to function, and describes them, set in the Southern African contexts. We address the issue of colonisation in ICT context and show the extend of such in the area of networking. These observations provide strong motivation for Africa-based engineering research to ensure that future network protocols and applications are context-sensitive, adaptive and truly global.enGlobalised internet technologySouthern African internet technologyRural African internet networksTCP/IPConference PresentationJohnson, D. L., & Van Stam, G. (2016). The shortcomings of globalised internet technology in Southern Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/9231Johnson, David L, and G Van Stam. "The shortcomings of globalised internet technology in Southern Africa." (2016): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/9231Johnson DL, Van Stam G, The shortcomings of globalised internet technology in Southern Africa; 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/9231 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - Johnson, David L AU - Van Stam, G AB - Network protocols and applications have mostly been developed in and for a Western context and usually have an embedded set of assumptions about network performance and availability. As a result web-browsing, cloud-based services, live voice and video over IP, desktop applications and software updates often fail or perform poorly in (rural) areas of Southern Africa. This paper uncovers some of the reasons for this poor performance such as Windows TCP failing to reach capacity in high-delay networks, long DNS delays or time-outs and applications such as Office365 assuming constant connectivity to function, and describes them, set in the Southern African contexts. We address the issue of colonisation in ICT context and show the extend of such in the area of networking. These observations provide strong motivation for Africa-based engineering research to ensure that future network protocols and applications are context-sensitive, adaptive and truly global. DA - 2016-12 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Globalised internet technology KW - Southern African internet technology KW - Rural African internet networks KW - TCP/IP LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2016 T1 - The shortcomings of globalised internet technology in Southern Africa TI - The shortcomings of globalised internet technology in Southern Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/9231 ER -