The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) has become a Regional Internet Exchange with the support of the African Union Commission.
With many IXPs in Africa exchanging intra-country traffic locally and intra-regional traffic being exchanged regionally, this will reduce the latency and save costs by eliminating the international transit through overseas carriers.
Through the African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) project of the African Union Commission, countries in Africa with Internet exchange points have increased from 18 to 35. The AU Commission further provided grants to support selected internet exchange points in the five geographical regions of the African Union to become regional Internet exchange points. One of them was the IXPN.
“Africa has been paying overseas carriers to exchange intra-continental traffic on our behalf,” said Moses Bayingana, Project Manager, African Internet Exchange System Project of the AU Commission.
“With regional IXPs in Africa exchanging intra-regional traffic locally, this will reduce the latency and save costs by eliminating the international transit through overseas carriers.”
Muhammed Rudman, CEO of IXPN, said that, with the new status as the Regional Internet Exchange Point for West Africa, IXPN would seek strategic alliances with other IXPs, regional carriers and service providers towards connected West Africa. He also said that the AXIS initiative has now positioned IXPN to champion a more regional connectivity drive that will ultimately lead to a One-Connected Africa.
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