Press Release Nº058 / 2014

AU Launches Internet Exchange Point in Burundi: “Contributing to a faster, more secure and affordable Internet in Africa”

Bujumbura, Burundi – 21st March, 2014: The African Union Commission (AUC), through the Infrastructure and Energy Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information, Communication and relations with Parliament of Burundi, and the Internet Society (ISOC) launched the Internet Exchange Point in Burundi on 21st March.

The Internet Exchange Point in Burundi will contribute to bringing efficiency in the routing of intra-country internet traffic and hence faster and more secure exchange of intra-country internet traffic.

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 22 Member States including Burundi. The capacity building support facilitated the setting up of the necessary governance structures and prepared network engineers with the technical skills to interconnect their networks to the internet exchange point. The AU has also donated equipment and services with the value of USD20, 000 to each of the internet exchange points launched in Namibia and Burundi.

Burundi is the second member state of the African Union to demonstrate administrative and technical readiness to launch the Internet Exchange Point with the support of the African Internet Exchange System Project of the AU.

“As you are aware, Internet has become an important tool in the communication world with equitable access for all and internet policy becoming major issues. Currently the notion of broadband internet and broadband access to all is increasingly seen as a basic human right for everyone just like access to clean water, health care, education, etc.

At the 2010 summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the commission on broadband for digital development presented its report which called on world leaders to ensure that more than half the world’s population has access to broadband by 2015 as a basic human right,” said Hon Tharcisse Nkezabahizi, Minister of Telecommunications, Information, Communication and relations with Parliament.”

Having regard to relevant African Union decisions, the African Internet Exchange System project was initiated to promote the keeping of intra-Africa’s internet traffic within the continent by supporting the establishment of national internet exchange points and regional internet exchange points in Africa.
“The African Union Commission reiterates its continued support to harness the potential of information communication technologies, and to find effective and innovative ways to put this potential at the service of African citizens,” said Mr. Philippe Niyongabo, Head of Energy Division, African Union Commission.

Other participants at the launch ceremony included Dr. Dawit Bekele, Director, ISOC Africa, senior government officials and leaders of industry.

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