Pan African Virtual Internet eXchange Brian Longwe Technology Officer, Telecommunication Service Providers Of Kenya brian@pure-id.com Internet Week, Johannesburg - SA 11th September 2002

Outline Background Problems for Regional Connectivity Solutions PAVIX? The “Backbone” of the Internet? US Centric Traffic Flows Problems for Regional Connectivity Poor performance High Costs Solutions National Exchange Points Regional Exchange Points PAVIX?

Background IS the USA really the backbone of the Internet?

Background US Centric Traffic Flows Cumbersome!

Problems Poor Performance on transfers between African countries 900 – 2000ms latency for Inter-country traffic Heavy dependence on Inter-Continental Satellite connectivity Insufficient internal optical fibre connectivity Insufficient cross-border connectivity

Barriers Legislation Economics Socio-Political Agendas Inter-Provider Cooperation and Collaboration

Solutions National Exchange Points: Interconnecting Local ISPs Gateways Local ISPs Keep Local Traffic Local! Internet Exchange Point

Solutions Regional Exchange Points: Interconnecting National IXs

PAVIX? Pan African Virtual Internet eXchange Any Peering/IX initiative involves 90% relational/social engineering and 10% technical engineering PAVIX is at the Social/Political engineering stage…

PAVIX? 4 ISPAs have discussed and expressed Interest ISPA (SA) TESPOK (Kenya) TIXP (Tanzania) UIXP (Uganda)

PAVIX? Is it possible? Is it necessary? Next Steps?

Thank You!