Optimisation of the Optical Fibre Infrastructure in Mali for Distance Learning: An Approach Based on VxLAN and SDN

The Malian education system, and higher education in particular, is facing problems of various kinds: lack of in-frastructure, materials and equipment, poor governance, and a shortage of sufficiently qualified human resources, both in terms of teaching staff and management teams. The combination of these factors has led to a serious deterioration in teaching and learning conditions and in the quality of the training courses, the products of which are more or less unfit to meet the country's socio-economic development needs. This study proposes a solution for optimising the existing fibre optic infrastructure to support distance learning, particularly in STEM fields. Our approach uses VxLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) and SDN (Software-Defined Networking) technologies to create a unified and flexible virtual learning environment. We are presenting a network architecture that enables students, regardless of their geographical location, to access educational resources as if they were on a local network. This solution exploits the national fibre optic infrastructure, reducing costs while maximising accessibility. Our experiments, based on practical scenarios in automation, web development and networks, demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in enriching the STEM learning experience. The results show a significant improvement in the accessibility of advanced educational resources and a facilitation of remote collaboration. This study paves the way for a digital transformation of higher education in Mali, offering a potential model for other developing countries facing similar challenges. It thus contributes to the overall objective of more accessible and equitable quality education.