Rinchi
TechInAfrica – Asteroid and NAPAfrica signed MoU to cooperate and reinforce their collaboration to develop African Internet interconnection. The collaboration sets focus on encouraging peering and local interconnection, specifically on Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) as it is an important part of the Internet ecosystem.
Both NAPAfrica and Asteroid are not only experts in the industry of IXPs but also full of experiences in interconnection, peering, and IXP operations. Moreover, Asteroid was established by IXP experts who targeting on creating efficient IXPs that can be used widely by people worldwide.
Speaking of NAPAfrica, the company obtains success in IXPs world in Africa. Currently, there are more than 500 networks connected that is exchanging both local and international Internet traffic in three locations in Southern Africa including Cape Town, Durban, as well as Johannesburg.
CCO of Asteroid, Nurani Nimpuno says that they are very proud of the collaboration they enter with NAPAfrica in order to work together in developing Africa’s Internet interconnection. They are excited to share and combine their experiences in IXPs and peering. Moreover, she also says on behalf of Asteroid that Africa has a great potential for Internet growth. However, there are some issues they need to overcome, especially the local interconnection. She believes that IXPs plays the main role to excel it. Therefore, Asteroid wants to play a positive role in the development. Teaming up with NAPAfrica is a good decision as it has an incredible reputation in the term experiences in IXPs.
The settlement focuses on their commitment to sharing knowledge and experience with people in Africa, particularly about the benefits of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and Peering. Both parties set their missions to generate an awareness of local interconnection and educating local communities about local peering as well as IXPs.
The Head of Interconnection and Peering of NAPAfrica, Michele McCann says that Asteroid has strong teams and reputable experts. Michele adds that NAPAfrica and the teams are pleased about their lean, efficient, and highly automated IXP model. It is suitable for Africa. Moreover, she says how proud NAPAfrica to be collaborated with Asteroid to introduce local interconnection and peering in the region.
Community building and sharing practices have been proven very crucial to develop local peering and creating effectual IXPs. IXPs help to encourage the improvement of a region’s communication infrastructure, such as national and international fiber cables as well as local data center development.
The existence of IXPs in a region is fundamental is it is able to improve access speeds and lessen latency sharply for the Internet users. Additionally, it also enables local content and services to be improved. In many places, IXPs have brought many positives effects including rectified resilience, a flourishing Internet market, as well as cost-savings.
About Asteroid
Asteroid is a global interconnection platform innovator. It operates neutral Internet exchange points (IXPs) worldwide, and works with trusted parties in local markets to deliver efficient, local interconnection.
The Asteroid IXP model is a return to the original spirit of simple, efficient interconnection but built on state-of-the-art technology, lightweight and scalable architecture, and advanced toolsets.
Asteroid IXPs provide a simple, modern and cost-effective way to peer with some of the largest networks in the world. With its nimble, yet powerful design, the Asteroid platform sets a new standard for IXPs.
Contact
Nurani Nimpuno, Asteroid CCO
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.asteroidhq.com/
Twitter: @Asteroidhq
About NAPAfrica
NAPAfrica is a neutral, layer 2 Internet eXchange (IX) point, located within each of the Teraco data centre facilities in South Africa. Instead of costly multiple direct links to different providers, a single peering point allows multiple networks and ISPs to interconnect using an exchange environment.
Contact
Michele McCann, Head of Interconnection and Peering at NAPAfrica / Teraco
Email: info@napafrica.net
Website: https://www.napafrica.net
Twitter: @NAPAfrica_IX
