08 January 2019

Nigeria-based data centre and fibre operator MDXI has partnered with Asteroid to launch a carrier-neutral internet exchange point (IXP) for West Africa.

Asteroid CEO, Remco van Mook (left) with Vremudia Oghene-Ruemu, product manager, MDXI/peering coordinator, WAF-IX.

 

The West African Internet Exchange (WAF-IX) will be located in MDXI’s Tier III data centre in Lagos.

The partners say the WAF-IX’s three major objectives are accessibility, lower costs and reduced latency for the region’s internet users.

It is based on what’s described as Asteroid’s “lean and efficient” IXP platform which, it’s claimed, enables service providers to optimise the delivery of enhanced end-to-end network performance while reducing overall IP transit costs.

According to MDXI, the new exchange will facilitate improved interconnection, collaboration and peering between players with access to its data centre, and will enable an ecosystem that allows customers to connect to multiple networks, cloud and content providers.

Vremudia Oghene-Ruemu, product manager at MDXI and peering coordinator at WAF-IX, believes the new internet exchange will complement national IXPs, improve regional traffic, and ultimately foster the creation of digital economies across West Africa.

“Given the size of its markets and status as home to some of Africa’s biggest economies, West Africa is uniquely positioned to scale up its digital transformation efforts via Internet traffic growth,” says Oghene-Ruemu. “WAF-IX will enable more Africa-focused global and local carriers take advantage of the growing internet penetration to enable services originating and terminating within the region.”

Asteroid CEO Remco van Mook adds that while West Africa’s digital economy is on the rise, huge gaps still exist in in-country interconnection.

He says: “We believe that the internet sector across West Africa has incredible potential for growth and will be greatly enabled by the WAF-IX. Together, we can provide a gateway for West African networks to peer with international content providers.”