One key issue to consider is the data connectivity requirements for VoIP solutions.

Most if not all commercial proprietary VoIP providers absolutely prerequire broadband connectivity. This makes sense for networks with nodes solely located in nations with highly developed communications infrastructures. In the case of RBAS however, it is clear that the region with which we are concerned does not match this prerequisite at any level. Tests conducted in Yemen and other countries has confirmed this.

The VoIP network deployed by IT Synergy does not have this prerequisite; we are a high-technology company based in an emerging market and we have learnt the hard way to design mission-critical technology to the most common and acceptable denominator to ensure adaptability of the technology to the environment. The VoIP network currently deployed and fully operational in 10 CO's has benefited from our experience with technology for developing markets: it works all the time, it works well, and it will continue to do so. This is attributable to design decisions we made concerning technology selection for the network; the protocol used is the G.729, by far the most efficient with a meagre 5.3 Kb/sec. in dynamically allocated bandwidth requirements. Very far from requiring broadband connectivity, it is clear. Even better, the fact that no data transmission happens during silences means that this requirement is dropped even further. The network currently operates using H.323; the deployed network is also capable of operating using SIP; for us, making this transition is a simple matter which can be done in a matter of a few keystrokes. If and when the UNDP implements standardization on SIP, we will be the fastest by far to comply.

Some commercial VoIP carriers may be bigger than us, but we certainly know more about how to give the UNDP and RBAS the right technology.