IXPN drives Internet growth in North East

Following handover of a Point of Presence (PoP) in Gombe to the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) earlier this year, the organisation has decided to improve Internet connectivity across the federation by engaging stakeholders in the North East.

To this end, IXPN hosted a workshop, titled: “Gombe Connectivity Engagement Forum” to discuss the benefits of Internet peering and interconnectivity to stress that the PoP in the state was to promote balanced growth of the ecosystem nationwide.

In a statement, yesterday, IXPN said the PoP would provide Internet Service Providers (ISPs), educational institutions and government organisations in the region the opportunity to access more affordable bandwidth by keeping their Internet traffic within the country.

Further, existing IXPN customers would have additional options for connecting to the organisation’s infrastructure.

The Internet body said the vent brought together ISPs, higher education institutions and other key players to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration within the region’s Internet ecosystem.

Participants explored the latest trends, opportunities and challenges in network connectivity.

Commending the NCC for the initiative, IXPN’s Chief Executive Officer, Muhammed Rudman, underscored the need for regional Internet exchanges (IXPs) to optimise network performance, reduce latency, and stimulate economic growth across Nigeria.

He highlighted the benefits of keeping Internet traffic local, which can lead to faster speed, lower cost, and improved experience for users.

Meanwhile, Rudman has attributed the high cost of building fibre optic infrastructure between states to various factors, including right-of-way challenges, multiple taxation, vandalism, and security concerns.

He stressed that regional IXPs could mitigate these issues by promoting local traffic exchange and reducing reliance on long-haul fibre connections.

The former NIRA president also echoed the importance of domiciling critical Internet resources within each region.

He noted that this approach would enhance Internet accessibility, improve website and email performance, as well as position Nigeria as a global leader in Internet technology.

By advocating for regional IXPs, he said IXPN aims to bridge the digital divide in the country and ensure that all citizens have access to fast, reliable and affordable Internet services