Rwanda’s
President and
Globacom
target regional
integration
in Africa
IXPN becomes Regional
Internet Exchange
The Internet Exchange Point of
Nigeria has become a Regional
Internet Exchange
R
wandan President, Paul Kagame and
Globacom’s Executive Vice Chairman
Bella Disu, have discussed the use of digital
technology to help the march towards
economic prosperity in Africa.
The two leaders held a private meeting after
the opening session of the two-day Africa
CEO Forum taking place in Kigali.
Globacom said it was willing to use its
massive infrastructure, including the Glo
1 international submarine cable, to drive
digitalisation on the continent.
President Kagame said Africa’s hopes
of achieving regional integration and
economic growth would not be realised
without modern technology. He also
commended the success Globacom
has made.
The Rwandan leader who, called for ‘open,
responsive and accountable governance’ on
the continent, said the private sector was
critical to growth because of its ability to
‘envision on what needs to be changed to
achieve desired improvement in the private
and public sectors.’
Meanwhile, Disu said Globacom’s Glo 1
armoured submarine cable and digital
solutions, such as mobile money, Artificial
Intelligence, E-Health, Smart Cognitive
Learning and Smart Energy, could help Africa
achieve a digitalised economy.
“I commend President Kagame for
his exemplary leadership and for the
tremendous success Rwanda has achieved
under him,” she said.
“Like President Kagame, I have no doubt
that greater integration will lead to
continental growth and a more prosperous
Africa. Globacom is committed to Africa’s
economic renaissance.”
www.intelligentcio.com
T
he Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria
(IXPN) has become a Regional
Internet Exchange with the support of
the African Union Commission.
With many IXPs in Africa exchanging intra-
country traffic locally and intra-regional
traffic being exchanged regionally, this
will reduce the latency and save costs
by eliminating the international transit
through overseas carriers. “Africa has been paying overseas
carriers to exchange intra-continental
traffic on our behalf,” said Moses
Bayingana, Project Manager, African
Internet Exchange System Project of the
AU Commission.“With regional IXPs
n Africa exchanging intra-regional
traffic locally, this will reduce the
latency and save costs by eliminating
the international transit through
overseas carriers.”
Through the African Internet Exchange
System (AXIS) project of the African
Union Commission, countries in Africa
with Internet exchange points have
increased from 18 to 35. The AU
Commission further provided grants
to support selected Internet exchange
points in the five geographical regions
of the African Union to become regional
Internet exchange points. One of them
was the IXPN. Muhammed Rudman, CEO of IXPN, said
that, with the new status as the Regional
Internet Exchange Point for West Africa,
IXPN would seek strategic alliances
with other IXPs, regional carriers and
service providers towards connected
West Africa. He also said that the AXIS
initiative has now positioned IXPN to
champion a more regional connectivity
drive that will ultimately lead to a One-
Connected Africa. n
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