Connectivity Providers Database

Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 09:09:25 +0300 From: Chief Technology Officer-ISPKenya <cto@nbi.ispkenya.com> To: eaia@list.eaia.org, afrik-it@listserv.heanet.ie, afnog@afnog.org, aig@uol.co.ug Subject: KIXP Online! The Kenya Internet Exchange Point went live again on the 14th of February, with 3 ISPs initially exchanging traffic. ISPKenya, SwiftGlobal and UUNET were the first ISPs to get their lines into the exchange point and with minimal configuration, started exchanging traffic late last night. Ten ISPs have already applied for connectivity to KIXP and it is expected that all of their links will be provisioned by Telkom Kenya over the next few days. KIXP has been inoperational since it was shut down by the regulator in December of 2000 due to concerns raised by the incumbent PTT Telkom Kenya. However after extensive dialogue and the establishment of appropriate procedures, the regulator, CCK, gave a nod to the Internet Exchange Point last October. The primary mission of KIXP is keeping local traffic local. This will ensure better quality of service for data exchanged at the local level, lower costs, reduced congestion on International circuits and the right environment for local online applications. Exchange points are key elements of Internet infrastructure worldwide and it is expected that KIXP, sub-saharan Africa's first exchange point outside of South Africa, will act as a catalyst in Kenya for local e-commerce, telemedicine, e- learning, live multimedia and many other delay-sensitive features of the Internet.