Intra-African broadband terrestrial infrastructure

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Through the African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) project of the African Union Commission, member states with internet exchange points have increased from 18 to 32. The Commission has further provided grants to six internet exchange points to be supported to become regional internet exchange points.

Under the grant awarded to the Kenya Internet Exchange point, the following four areas are to be supported: Capacity Building, the KIXP Site in Mombasa, the GSM Regional Exchange (GRX) and promotion of KIXP as a regional internet exchange “In the context of celebrating 50 years, the AU heads of state and government agreed to develop a Continental Agenda 2063.

The overall objective of Agenda 2063 is to chart Africa’s development trajectory over the next 50 years. One of the envisaged activities is putting in place an intra-African broadband terrestrial infrastructure, said Dr Elham M.A. Ibrahim, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.

“As access to information and knowledge is a prerequisite to achieving development goals set by Africa, I call upon the public sector, private sector and civil society to partner and find effective and innovative ways to put the potential of ICT at the service of African citizens, added Ibrahim.

“Africa is currently paying overseas carriers to exchange intra- continental traffic on our behalf. This is both costly as well as an inefficient way of handling exchange of local Internet traffic.”

The launch was officiated by Ibrahim and Victor Kyalo, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology of Kenya, and attended by leaders of the Industry.

“We are keen on enhancing local and regional connectivity to make Africa technologically competitive,” concluded Kyalo.

*For more information on the African Internet Exchange System Project of the African Union, visit: au.int/axis