Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis discusses the steps that should be taken when conceptualising, designing and implementing a South African national research and education network. It looks at all aspects of specifying transmission mediums and technology, choosing hardware and interfaces and detailing node layout and optic fibre network architecture. It examines the design of a national transport backbone, as well as a metropolitan optic fibre network. It considers ways in which the network may be made future-proof, both in terms of capacity and technology, and suggests ways to integrate the incumbent tertiary and education network into a fully-fledged, world-class network. Finally it benchmarks the network against similar networks in other countries, most notably the United States of America. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bespreek die stappe wat geneem behoort te word wanneer 'n Suid Afrikaanse nasionale navorsings en tersiêre opvoedings netwerk gekonseptualiseer, ontwerp en geïmplementeer word. Dit beskou al die aspekte rondom die spesifiseering van transmissie mediums en -tegnologie, die keuse van hardeware en koppelvlakke en die detailering van nodus uitlegte en optiese vesel netwerk argitektuur. Dit ondersoek die ontwerp van 'n nasionale transmissie ruggraat netwerk, sowel as 'n metropolitaanse optiese vesel netwerk. Dit oorweeg maniere waarmee 'n netwerk toekomsproef gemaak kan word, beide in terme van kapasiteit sowel as tegnologie, en stel maniere voor waarmee die huidige tersiêre opvoeding en navorsingsnetwerk geïntegreer kan word na 'n volwaardige, wêreldklas netwerk. Uiteindelik word die netwerk ontwerp vergelyk met soortgelyke netwerke in ander lande, spesifiek in die Verenigde State van Amerika.