AU Launches Internet Exchange Point in Seychelles: “Keeping intra-country internet traffic within the country”
Victoria, Seychelles – 20th February, 2015: The African Union Commission (AUC), through the Infrastructure and Energy Department, in collaboration with the Department of Information Communications Technology of Seychelles on 20 February 2015 launched the Internet Exchange Point in Seychelles.
Prior to the launch Dr. Elham Ibrahim, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, paid a courtesy call to Mr. Danny Faure, Vice President and Minister of ICT of Seychelles on 19th February 2015.
The Vice President expressed his appreciation to the African Union Commission for having supported the establishment of the Internet Exchange Point in Seychelles. To this end, he confirmed his intention to officiate at the official launch ceremony.
On her part, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy informed the Vice President that the Commission is pleased to have contributed to the establishment of the internet exchange point in Seychelles and for the Vice President to grace the official launch ceremony demonstrates the high level support received from the Government of Seychelles.
Through the African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) project, the African Union Commission has so far extended capacity building support to facilitate the establishment of internet exchange points in 30 Member States including Seychelles.
The AU has also donated equipment and facilitated the setting up of Internet Exchange Points in Member States that have met the readiness criteria. With the support of the African Union Commission, the following eight Member States have since set up their Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): Burundi, Congo Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Namibia, Seychelles and Swaziland.
“There is growing importance in exchanging traffic among the internet service providers. This is due to the fact that by connecting to the internet exchange point, access to local content improves, since the local traffic remains in the country. This in turn enhances internet use because the end users realize fast and efficient services. Said, H.E. Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles.”
Increasing efficiency of national & regional traffic is an area that has largely not been addressed, resulting in a slow and expensive exchange of African inter-country traffic via overseas hubs. Africa is therefore currently paying overseas carriers to exchange intra- continental traffic on our behalf. This is both costly as well as an inefficient way of handling exchange of local Internet traffic.
“The search for better ways to maximize the benefit of ICT for development has to go on. We are just at the beginning of the journey”, said the AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.
“I look forward to the advancement of the internet exchange point in Seychelles to be able to put its potential at the service of citizens in Seychelles by contributing to reduction of latency, affordable internet, increased number of new local online applications and increased quality of local access”, added Commissioner. Elham Ibrahim,
