Rightsizing Connectivity for Humanitarian Operations

Humanitarian organisations are increasingly under pressure to reduce costs as funding becomes more constrained. At the same time, reliable internet connectivity has become a mission-critical service. With the widespread adoption of cloud-based platforms for procurement, finance, HR, and frontline humanitarian operations, any loss or degradation of connectivity can significantly disrupt service delivery.

Connectivity, along with IT more broadly, is often viewed as a cost centre where savings can be made. However, reducing connectivity without proper analysis can lead to productivity losses that ultimately cost more than the savings achieved. The challenge, therefore, is to right size connectivity—balancing cost reduction with a reliable and acceptable user experience.

This article explains how terrestrial and satellite Internet Service Providers (ISPs) sell connectivity services and provides practical guidance on how to size internet connections appropriately for humanitarian operations.

Back to IT School: Understanding Internet Services

Before exploring sizing strategies, it is important to understand how ISPs define and sell internet services.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth refers to the speed of an internet connection and is measured in kilobits per second (Kb/sec) or megabits per second (Mb/sec)—note the lowercase b for bits.

• 1 Mb/sec = 1,000 Kb/sec

Internet connections are often asymmetric, meaning download and upload speeds differ. For example, a typical domestic broadband service in the UK may offer 50 Mb/sec download and 8 Mb/sec upload. This works well for residential users who mainly consume content (e.g. streaming), but it may not be suitable for business or humanitarian use where uploads and video conferencing are critical.

Most terrestrial ISPs charge a fixed monthly fee based on bandwidth, often with unlimited data usage.

Data Volume

Data volume refers to the total amount of data transferred and is measured in kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB)—note the uppercase B for bytes.

• 1 byte = 8 bits
• 1 MB = 8 Mb

Mobile and satellite services commonly charge based on data volume rather than speed.

Shared Services

To reduce costs, ISPs often offer shared (or contended) services, where a fixed amount of bandwidth is shared among multiple customers.

Example:
A 50 Mb/sec service shared between 25 households means that, at peak times, each household may experience as little as 2 Mb/sec (50 ÷ 25). During quieter periods, users may reach the full 50 Mb/sec.

In satellite communications, shared services are often described using:

• Committed Information Rate (CIR): The minimum guaranteed speed
• Maximum Information Rate (MIR): The maximum possible speed

Dedicated Services

Dedicated services provide exclusive bandwidth to a single customer and are not shared. These services are more expensive but offer predictable performance and are typically required by organisations such as broadcasters or critical operations centres.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

ISPs typically offer SLAs covering two areas:

Connectivity: A connectivity SLA defines service availability and performance, for example guaranteeing minimum or dedicated bandwidth 99% of the time. Failure to meet these targets may result in service credits.

Lower-cost services often operate on a “best effort” basis, where only the maximum speed is advertised and no minimum performance is guaranteed. These services are generally designed for residential use and may perform poorly during peak periods.

Technical Support: Support SLAs define response and resolution times, escalation processes, and service restoration commitments.

Note:
For users of satellite based connections, geostationary satellite services experience predictable, short outages twice a year due to solar interference. These events are normally excluded from SLAs, but ISPs will notify customers in advance.

Assessing Your Connectivity Requirements

Many humanitarian organisations have adopted a Digital First approach, relying heavily on cloud-based productivity and operational tools. While this reduces infrastructure costs, it increases dependency on reliable connectivity.

A proper needs assessment should address:

• Sufficient bandwidth for users to work efficiently
• A backup internet connection in case the primary service fails

Providing Adequate Capacity

If minimum bandwidth standards are not already defined, each application should be assessed for its typical bandwidth usage.

Indicative Bandwidth Requirements

This assessment is not an exact science, as not all users will be online or using all applications simultaneously. Software updates and background services also consume bandwidth.

Example:
A user frequently participating in video calls (500 Kb/sec), using SAP Ariba (60 Kb/sec), and allowing for network overheads (50 Kb/sec) requires approximately 610 Kb/sec.

For a small office of 10 similar users, a minimum of 6 Mb/sec symmetrical bandwidth would be required.

Asymmetric Bandwidth Considerations

Video conferencing and cloud applications typically require symmetrical upload and download speeds. While asymmetric services may be suitable for browsing or streaming, they may not support operational needs. Upload and download requirements should therefore be assessed separately.

How ISPs Charge for Connectivity

Fixed Price per Mb/sec (Symmetric)

A flat monthly rate based on symmetrical bandwidth, usually with unlimited data. Costs are predictable.

Fixed Price per Mb/sec (Asymmetric)

Sold based on the higher (download) speed, for example 100 Mb/sec down and 25 Mb/sec up. It is essential to ensure the upload speed meets operational needs.

Note: Some satellite ISPs charge for total combined capacity (e.g. 5 Mb/sec down + 2 Mb/sec up = 7 Mb/sec).

Volume-Based Charging

Common for cellular and satellite services such as Starlink, BGAN, and Thuraya IP. Charges are based on data usage (MB or GB), either pay-as-you-go or via time-limited data bundles.

Capacity Management

Once bandwidth is defined, controls may be required to prevent misuse:

• Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritises critical traffic such as voice and video
• Content Management: Blocks high-bandwidth services such as streaming platforms
• Per-User Bandwidth Limits: Prevents excessive usage, particularly on volume-based services

Selecting the Right Service

1. Define the minimum bandwidth required per user
2. Ensure shared services meet or exceed required CIR levels
3. For volume-based services, estimate monthly data usage and apply controls
4. Implement a backup connection—LEO satellite services can provide resilient alternatives to terrestrial links
5. Review ISP SLAs carefully

Conclusion

As humanitarian organisations become increasingly digital, rightsizing internet connectivity is critical. The goal is to balance affordability with a reliable and productive user experience.

Connectivity failures can directly disrupt humanitarian operations. By carefully assessing requirements, selecting appropriate services, applying network controls, and ensuring backup connectivity, organisations can build resilient and cost-effective connectivity solutions that support their mission.