Internet traffic Exchange points (or IXPs) play a fundamental role in global communications. Today, most of the major players (publishers, hosting companies, operators) interconnect at these “hubs” to exchange flows of data.

When the flows between two actors are very large and/or significantly asymmetric, it is not uncommon that a private network interconnect (PNI) is created. The ultimate goal is to control bandwidth costs, but PNIs also typically improve the quality of service between the two networks.

This video, conducted by the Association of European Internet Exchange points, presents the challenge around peering:

More than 300 points

Over the past decade, the number of points of exchange has been increasing, as explained in this recent report. There are presently over 300 “Crossroads” of digital flows throughout the world.

One of the most recent was put into service last week, in the Congo Africa. It is know as Kinix.

The peering point was created by various local operators, who were assisted by specialists from European IXP, ISOC and other operators.

Shortly after the launching, it is clear that the performance of local content access and traffic exchange is already improving.

The launch of this IXP is a further forward for the vast country of West Africa, particularly as two submarine cables were also recently put into production (ACE and WACS) to its shores, offering better international connectivity.

Over the years, the African continent has focused on telecom services to support educational, cultural and economic growth. However there remain challenges for completing network build outs in many territories that would provide equal Internet access to the rest of the world for this large population.

Sign of the interest from major telecom players, intensified last spring. The U.S. operator Level3 and Djibouti Telecom announced an agreement to deploy a POP in Djibouti.

Good luck and best wishes for success Kinix… and of course, do not hesitate to regularly check your radar portal to monitor the performance of Clouds and content delivery providers as perceived by users in Congo.

Here are recent facts about Internet in Africa and the Internet traffic exchange market:

• BalancingAct Africa : Media specializes in telecoms news in Africa
• Internet Traffic Exchange: Market Developments and Policy Challenges (OECD report)
• Internet traffic exchange: 2 billion users and it’s done on a handshake (OECD blog post)
• French authority acknowledges Cedexis contribution to improving Internet content delivery
• BEREC expert workshop on IP-Interconnection (Peering and Transit) in cooperation with OECD (All slides from this conference)
• IXP directory maintened by PCH

You want to optimize the distribution of your content or to become Africa’s local Cedexis partner? Contact us.