A Partnership to Advance Digital Rights and Internet Development in Africa

The Internet Society and CIPESA have commited to work together for an open, secure, and trustworthy Internet for Africa.

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Georgia Prepares to Launch a New Internet Exchange Point

A new Internet exchange point will launch in Georgia in September. We look at the motivations for developing the IXP and plans for the future.

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Measuring IXP Success in South Africa against the 80/20 Goal

NAPAfrica wants to make the Internet more accessible across the continent. Here's how it's been playing a pivotal role in improving Africa’s Internet access.

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In Central Asia: Experts Discuss Opportunities to Grow IXPs

When the Internet Society, Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific examined the regional digital economy of Central Asia in 2015, it recommended investing in the development of Carrier-Neutral Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to drive down connectivity costs and enable more people to connect on the […]

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Supporting IXPs in Asia-Pacific: New Partnership with the Asia Pacific Internet Exchange Association

The Internet Society and the Asia Pacific Internet Exchange Association (APIX) commit to work together to support communities that build the Internet and improve digital infrastructure in the region. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, average international Internet traffic increased by 48%, putting an unprecedented strain on the Internet. The trend was the same […]

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Spotlight on the Kenya Education Network, an Africa Peering Community Champion

The Kenya Education Network (KENET) supports communities that build Internet infrastructure in Kenya. For nearly a decade, KENET has been working with the Internet Society to grow capacity of higher education campuses, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and young engineers. They peer at the Kenya Internet Exchange Point, and they’ve also been […]

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African Women to Drive Digitalization and Transformation: AfChix and Internet Society Renew Partnership

African economies are making bold moves to speed up digitalization and transformation. We want women to play a key part in that. In a new partnership agreement, we are committing to closing the digital gender gap and helping women embrace technology to drive change. Africa’s growing Internet economy has the potential to contribute nearly $180 […]

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How Has COVID-19 Impacted Regional Internet Ecosystems?

One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and work are still online while the pressure on Internet ecosystems remains unprecedented. This has put the question of Internet resilience to the fore. As networks continue to struggle to cope with traffic spikes and connectivity hiccups, we examine how COVID-19 impacted some regional Internet ecosystems in 2020. […]

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In Macedonia, Strengthening IXP.mk’s Peering Infrastructure

The Internet Society has been supporting the development of the Internet in Macedonia by collaborating with the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering (FCSE) of the Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Macedonia on its IXP.mk project. IXPs play a critical role in bringing faster and more affordable Internet, and the Macedonian IXP (IXP.mk) had been established in June 2018 with technical support from a number of stakeholders.

Switch and MUX to Strengthen Infrastructure

As traffic grew, IXP.mk needed to increase its peering capacity with improved switching capabilities and space for data racks that would allow it to attract new participants to the exchange. In 2020, the Internet Society provided IXP.mk with a switch and two Fiber Optic Multiplexers (Fiber Mux) that enabled an additional peering location to be established in the Telesmart Telekom data center, thereby making it easier for other major networks and Content Distribution Networks to peer with each other. The Fiber Muxes support the transmission of multiple data channels over a single fiber that has been donated by an existing member of IXP.mk.

Critical Service Provider

With a strong peering infrastructure, IXP.mk is now a critical service provider to Continue reading

In Africa, Strengthening Digital Infrastructure for a Safe Return to Schools

When COVID-19 struck Africa, governments imposed temporary or full shutdowns of education systems to contain its spread. At least 53 out of the 54 African countries took measures that canceled or partially closed schools. Kenya, for example, canceled the 2020 academic year in March, before changing its directives six months later to allow schools to reopen.

No Internet, No Schools

Across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, and South Africa, where governments imposed partial closure, the few students with access to the Internet, mobile devices, and computers continue learning. But for the majority, there is no schooling. Most can’t afford the cost of Internet data, and very few have access to smartphones and computers. They must improvise to learn, thus widening disparities between learners with Internet access and those without. How can Africa close this gap and offer equal learning opportunities to everyone?

As we gear up towards resuming formal education, there is general panic among parents about the implications resulting from the major learning disruptions. Could COVID-19 lead to a lost generation of students?

Solutions for a Safe Return

Fortunately, African decision-makers are shifting their positions on schools as we learn to live with COVID-19. Governments across the Continue reading