Internet Exchange Point Launched in Seychelles

The African Internet Exchange System (AXIS) project commenced in 2010 as one of the ARAPKE Flagships projects with co-funding from the EU-Africa Infrastructures Trust Fund and Government of Luxembourg in the context of the First Action Plan of the 8th EU-Africa Strategic Partnership on Science, Information Society and Space.

AXIS is focused on supporting the establishment of a continental African Internet infrastructure through national and regional Internet exchange points. Such deployment is considered crucial for the development of the internet in Africa, generating huge costs savings by keeping local traffic local and offering better quality of service and new applications opportunities. AXIS activities include technical assistance on planning, regulatory/policy issues, as well as human training to achieve this objective.

On 20 February 2015 Mr. Danny Faure, Vice President and Minister of ICT and Dr. Elham Ibrahim, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy launched the national Internet Exchange Point in Seychelles. The launch was attended by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Principal Secretary, Department of ICT, Senior Government Officials and Industry leaders.

To date the AXIS project has facilitated that African Union Commission (AUC) to provide capacity building support in prepare for the establishment of Internet Exchange Points in 30 Member States. Following achievement of the readiness criteria, the AUC has supported Burundi, Congo Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Namibia, Seychelles and Swaziland to set up Internet Exchange Points.

For more information on AXIS activities, click here