The East African Internet Exchange Point (EAXIP) set to interconnect countries in the East Africa region through internet links with an aim to reduce cost of internet services is scheduled to go live in the coming year.
Championed by the East African Communications Organisation (EACO), EAXIP will provide a physical network access area through which major network providers will connect their networks and exchange traffic.
The exchange point will also be established to help keep the region’s internet traffic local, while reducing costs associated with traffic exchange between Internet Service Providers.
Joseph Tiampati, the ICT Principal Secretary in Kenya said policies and strategies aimed at providing guidelines for the implementation of the exchange point are in the process of being drafted.
Tiampati was speaking at the ongoing 5-day Eastern Africa Regional Interconnection Policy and Regulatory Framework workshop in Nairobi, set to close on Friday, 7th November.
To come with the implementation of the EAIXP are various benefits such as the growth of network applications, expansion of e-content across the region through increased internet penetration as well as increasing the bandwidth.
The link will also play a part in improving privacy and managing cyber security incidences that have been reported to plague African countries and the globe as a whole, forcing governments and ICT organisations to build security solutions to fight cybercrime.
“The increased uptake of online services such as e-government services, e-commerce, e-banking, e-learning and e-health not to mention the world renown mobile money services are just a few of the areas that are increasingly becoming movers of our economies,” said Tiampati.
Implementation of the project will first be done for the five EAC countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda, with plans to roll out in the other countries in the East Africa region thereafter.
According to a last year study, all countries in the region have a national IXP in place except for Burundi.
