Uganda was one of the first
countries in sub-Saharan Africa to obtain a full Internet connection. InfoMail became the first supplier of Internet services by establishing a
VSAT-based service via NSN in the USA. STARCOM, a Uganda registered
company backed by a multi-million dollar investment from Telenor (the Norwegian national
telecom carrier), as well as by US and Ugandan investors, was the second ISP in the
country. InfoMail and STARCOM have merged into a new ISP called Infocom. The InfoMail and STARCOM domains will remain as they are for present
users; however, new users will take on a new address: UserId@Infocom.co.ug.
Swift
Global (Uganda) Ltd, a nodal partner with Swift Global
Communications Inc. based in Long Island, USA, is another ISP in the country.
In 1997, Swift Global finalised its tests on Internet Service products and went ahead to
offer these products in the market.
AfricaOnline Uganda is a
subsidiary of Africa Online which is the premier provider of Internet communications
services throughout Africa, bringing Internet users a level of technical expertise and
breadth of service unequalled by any other on the continent. Founded in 1994 by three
Kenyans studying at M.I.T. and Harvard University in the United States, Africa Online has
evolved its charter to provide leading-edge Internet services to thousands of successful
individuals and businesses. Africa Online is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with
operations in Kenya, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Uganda
OnLine (UOL), an offshoot of MUKLA - the pioneer
electronic network service at Makerere University - is the recent entrant to provide
Internet services. UOL Communications is committed to servicing the NGO sector and other
groups working on human rights, gender equality, primary and tertiary education,
primary health care, relief agencies, etc.
Bushnet
Limited is licensed by the Uganda Communications
Commission to provide data transmission and Internet services. Part of
Bushnet's services is the provision of Internet and e-mail services via HF radios to
remote clients. Bushnet, in co-operation with STARCOM International, has started linking
corporate customers to automated mailing systems, which connect to the Bushnet hub at
regular intervals through standard telephone lines.
Internet
Content Providers:
Internet host sites: 159
(2000)
Internet subscribers
(1999)
- Total: 12,000
- Internet subscribers per 10,000
inhabitants: 5.67
Internet Users (1999):
- Total: 25,000
- Users per 10,000 inhabitants: 11.82
Internet use by categories:
- Commercial:
- Academic:
- Research:
- NGO/UN/International:
- Government:
- Others:
Internet bandwidth (Kbps):
384
