Optimizing an Efficient Use of Internet Bandwidth for Higher Learning Institutions in Ghana

This paper examines the availability of Internet services in Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) for developing countries such as Ghana, with respect to the cost and usage. We looked at the source of Internet services and the bandwidth package for some Higher Learning Institutions in Accra, Ghana. One of the key objectives of this study is to design and simulates an efficient Internet bandwidth usage for Higher Learning Intuitions. We examined the cost of bandwidth package offered by the Internet service providers to these higher institutions. In looking at the cost we also included the bandwidth packages offered, the type of Internet connection and the service level agreement with the ISPs. In the study, we looked at how the Internet is distributed to these institutions and the equipment used in the distribution of the Internet services. Ipswich Whatsup Gold software was used to monitor the network infrastructure for one of the institutions in the study. We went further to monitor the bandwidth consumption for Ghana Technology University College, one of the institutions in the study, to monitor their bandwidth consumption and traffic flow in the network. In designing an efficient bandwidth management for the Higher Learning Institution, we model and configured a network in Packet tracer using a proxy cache box. This technique allows for an efficient bandwidth planning capacity to manage the bandwidth consumptions. At the end of the study, we modeled a network using cache box to restrict and minimize bandwidth usage and thus making it less expensive for the Higher Learning Institutions.