Pan-African ICT provider Seacom is set to be the first reseller of the Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) East Africa exchange point in Mombasa, Kenya, which is planned to go live mid-November.
The new internet exchange point, which is an initiative on the part of AMS-IX and the Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK), is planned to further enhance connectivity within East Africa.
An IX (internet exchange) or IXP (internet exchange point) allows service providers to connect directly rather than through one or more third-party networks. A key advantage to such infrastructure includes shorter paths to content delivery networks (CDNs), thanks to factors such as improved latency and bandwidth.
Prior to this announcement, Seacom says it has already expanded its European connectivity to Amsterdam and joined the AMS-IX reselling program. Earlier this year, Seacom and internet exchange operator France-IX also formed a partnership.
“To have a good interconnection and Internet performance in the region, the setup of an Internet exchange hub is essential,” explains Job Witteman, chief executive of of AMS-IX, in a statement.
Mark Simpson, chief executive officer of SEACOM adds in a statement, “This new peering platform has the potential to deliver a better Internet experience for all users in the regions that Seacom touches, Southern and East Africa, Europe, India and Asia, at lower costs all while boosting the country’s Internet economy.”
The 17,000km Seacom subsea broadband cable connects Africa’s eastern coastline to Europe and Southern Asia. The cable has what Seacom officials call point of presence areas in places such as Nairobi in Kenya and Maputo in Mozambique.
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