Africa Data Centres has partnered with INX-ZA, a division of the Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) of South Africa, which operates completely neutral, and community-run internet exchange points in South Africa.

According to a media statement released by Africa Data Centres, the partnership will deliver free peering from any of Africa Data Centres facilities to INX-ZA's Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX), the oldest IXP in the country, and its Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX).

Africa Data Centres will now subsidise the port and cross-connect fee for any customer collocating in their Africa Data Centres, to the JINX or CINX respectively.

Stephane Duproz, chief executive officer of Africa Data Centres said connecting to JINX and CINX enables carrier, ISPs and enterprises alike, to peer in a free and simplified way.

"Africa Data Centres' customers will still deal with INX-ZA on a technical level, and community level, and we will be the catalyst that enables this," he added.

Duproz said customers will be able to apply to INX-ZA for ports in the usual way. "Africa Data Centres will cover the costs of ports and cross-connects but the customer will maintain the technical relationship with INX-ZA directly."

Africa Data Centres currently hosts a JINX node in its Johannesburg Data Centre, and a CINX node in its Cape Town Data Centre.

"We have long supported INX-ZA and their model of community-run, distributed IXPs, by playing host to them in JNB and CPT", explained Duproz. "This next step is the logical one, in progressing that relationship"

"As a result of this initiative, Internet peering through JINX or CINX will be free for any Africa Data Centre customer in South Africa," he added.

Neutral network

Speaking on the sidelines of AfricaCom, held recently in Cape Town, Duproz said there is a major opportunity to develop and leverage a network of neutral datacentres across Africa, which is something the company is doing and, according Duproz, Africa Data Centres is the only one doing it.

"What does exist in Africa (are) neutral datacentres... isolated. Then parallel to that, there are some companies having some datacentres in several countries in Africa, but they are not neutral. When I arrived here a bit more than a year ago, as shocking as it may (have) appeared, there is an enormous opportunity (to) create what has driven the outstanding success of global datacentre operator leaders – which is the network of neutral datacentres across the continent. That is what we are doing and we are the only ones doing it!" said Duproz.

Looking head the Africa Data Centres executive added that the 'next big thing' to emerge in the market is Kenya.

"Just look at the IP transit to see what will happen next. You will see that the biggest route of IP transit in Africa is Africa towards Kenya."

Duproz added that Nigeria, followed by Egypt and Morocco are critical markets for the company going forward.