The global interconnection platform innovator Asteroid International has launched its Internet Exchange Point (IXP) solution in Mombasa, Kenya.

In a statement, Asteroid International explained the IXP has Facebook and Google present, as well as "several local Kenyan and African networks".

The Asteroid IXP is located in icolo datacentre facilities in Mombasa and is expected to improve internet interconnection in East Africa, and support the region's digital growth.

Asteroid International said an IXP allows many different internet players to come together and exchange internet traffic locally and efficiently, through so-called 'peering'.

Having content and services close to the local internet user is key to getting good response times and low latency, but it also makes those services and content more reliable, and less vulnerable to external disruptions, the company added.

"We are very proud to deploy an exchange point in Kenya", said Asteroid chief executive officer Remco van Mook. "Mombasa is the perfect place to interconnect the whole region, and the carrier-neutral icolo facilities are world-class. There is a tremendous need for modern, well-run, cost effective IXPs in Africa. The Asteroid IXP will not only provide modern interconnection, it will contribute to improved internet accessibility, lower costs and better internet performance for internet users in region."

According to Asteroid International, in Africa, it is not uncommon to see internet traffic destined from one local ISP to another, leave the continent through expensive international links, before returning to reach the other local party.

This often results in delays and high costs for all parties. An IXP allows internet players to exchange that traffic locally, without the need for third parties or expensive international links.

"We are very excited to partner with Asteroid", says icolo chief executive officer Ranjith Cherickel. "Asteroid brings considerable experience from the interconnection space. Their ultramodern IXP solution at the icolo datacentre, will not only help significantly improve the performance between ISPs in the region, it will also attract new players to the country and boost the interconnection growth more broadly. "