The proposed solution is based on general distributed architecture principles, allowing it to grow as future requirements are identified, extending the initial investment. A.3 WIDE AREA NETWORK INITIATIVE Individual SADC Member States Customs administrations have each elected to employ the customs processing systems they deem appropriate to their situation. Eleven of the 14 States have adopted the systems of their choice such as ASYCUDA, TIMS, CMS and various legacy systems. The current challenge is that the various systems are not compatible and unable to interconnect to each other. A project is currently being implemented by the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs with a view to facilitate communication between the Regional Early Warning Centre (REWC) at the Secretariat and the Member States. The main satellite hub has been installed at the SADC Secretariat and satellite dishes are operational in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is expected that the entire REWC wide area network will be operational by December 2013. Provision is being made for regional programmes to leverage on the REWC infrastructure REWC for electronic communication and information exchange between Member States and with the Secretariat. Necessary control features will be implemented so that there is segregation of traffic, thus ensuring security and confidentiality of the information being transmitted. The advantage of this approach is that programmes will only have to pay for the additional bandwidth that will be required by each individual programme and that the network is dedicated and secure. However, it is to be noted that the WAN is just communication link between the Secretariat and the MS. The use of the WAN for Customs applications like data exchange, e-learning, interface between different Customs Information System and transit management information system will come at a different stage and will require additional appropriate resources. 16 Draft SADC Customs ICT Strategy 2012 Page 16