Johannesburg, South Africa – 22nd September, 2016: The African Union Commission (AUC), through the Infrastructure and Energy Department, in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services of South Africa and the Internet Services Providers Association of South Africa, launched the AU support to the Johannesburg Internet Exchange to become a regional internet exchange point.

The launch was officiated by Hon. Dr Siyabonga Cwele, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services of South Africa and H.E. Dr. Elham Ibrahim, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy and attended by leaders of the ICT Industry and representatives of school students as future internet generation.

Through the African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) project of the African Union Commission, Member States with internet exchange points have increased from eighteen to thirty two. 

The Commission has further provided grants to eight internet exchange points to be supported to become regional internet exchange points. The AU grant is supporting the Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX), to set up multi-locations to facilitate its expansion to become a regional internet exchange.

“Today marks another continental milestone of the journey towards self-emancipation. The launch of the SADC Internet Exchange Point, supported by the African Union, means that we are investing in modern communications infrastructure on the continent. The consumers will benefit because the regional internet exchange means that citizens will have better user experiences. It should lead to faster downloading times because the information will be circulating within the region. This should ultimately contribute in lowering the cost of connecting to the internet. As it stands now, internet exchange point of African are hosted in the countries that colonized them. Said Hon. Dr Siyabonga Cwele, Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services of South Africa. ”

“Africa has been paying overseas carriers to exchange intra-continental traffic on our behalf. This is both costly as well as inefficient. With regional IXPs in Africa exchanging intra-regional traffic locally, this will reduce the latency and save costs by eliminating the international transit through overseas carriers. Said H.E. Dr. Elham M.A. Ibrahim, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.”

“Since its inception, the African Union has focused on the promotion of an integrated Africa. Regional & continental infrastructure is key to economic integration of the continent.  Such regional initiatives contribute to the integration of the fifty-four member states of the African Union into one strong, robust, diversified and resilient economy. Added H.E. Dr. Elham Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.”

For more information on the African Internet Exchange System Project of the African Union, visit www.au.int/axis