Internet Information and Resources
Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)
The primary role of an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is to keep local Internet traffic within local infrastructure and to the reduce costs associated with traffic exchange between Internet Service Providers (ISPs). In many developing countries, poor connectivity between ISPs often results in the routing of local traffic over expensive international links simply to reach destinations within the country of origin. IXPs can also improve the quality of Internet services in a country by reducing the delay associated with packet delivery. Furthermore, IXPs can serve as a convenient hub for hosting value-added and critical infrastructure within a country.
ISOC general resources
- Promoting the Use of Internet Exchange Points: A Guide to Policy,
Management, and Technical Issues (PDF: 382KB)
By Mike Jensen - A Summary Report Promoting the Use of Internet Exchange Points: A
Guide to Policy, Management, and Technical Issues (PDF: 166KB)
Short summary of the Mike Jensen article - Report from the IGF Rio Best Practices Session Internet Traffic Exchange in Less Developed Internet. Markets and the Role of Internet Exchange Points (HTML | PDF: 396KB)
- Transcript from the IGF Rio Best Practices Session (HTML | PDF: 168KB)
Other Resources
- Network Startup Resource Center's (NSRC) current location map of IXPs in Africa
- NSRC's multi-lingual (English, Spanish, French and Portuguese) Routing, BGP and IXP Resources
- Internet Exchange Points: Their Importance to Development of the Internet and Strategies for their Deployment – The African Example (PDF: 170KB)
- Creating National and Regional Internet Exchange Points in Africa (PDF: 601KB)
