The 12th edition of the African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF), which is jointly organized by the Internet Society (ISOC) and the African IXP Association (AFIX), is starting tomorrow August 22nd to 24th, 2023 in Accra-Ghana.
According to a statement by the organizer, this year’s forum is dedicated to fostering interconnection between Internet service providers, content providers, and data centers throughout the African region. It serves as a unique platform for participants to exchange insights, deliberate on emerging trends, and cultivate avenues for collaboration.
“The forthcoming AfPIF event promises to be a dynamic and captivating event, featuring a lineup of keynote addresses, panel discussions, technical sessions, and invaluable networking opportunities. Attendees can anticipate gaining profound insights into the most recent industry trends, networking with industry experts, and uncovering opportunities for peering and interconnection within the African landscape,” the statement signed by Kyle Spencer, the Executive Director of the African IXP Association said.
The statement also noted that AfPIF holds a unique position as a catalyst for enhancing interconnection and peering across Africa, adding that as all stakeholders gather in Accra, AfPIF renew its commitment to strengthening the digital fabric of Africa.
“By encouraging the local exchange of Internet traffic, AfPIF contributes significantly to the growth of the African digital ecosystem, driving economic progress and empowering communities. We look forward to inspiring discussions and collaborative efforts that will drive the realization of a more connected Africa,” it stated.
AfPIF’s mission is to increase the amount of Internet content and traffic exchanged locally in Africa. This is commonly achieved via Internet exchange points (IXPs) which enable multiple networks to directly interconnect through common infrastructure. This aggregation facilitates large-scale content distribution which improves the speed, cost-effectiveness, and reliability of the Internet. It also reduces the region’s reliance on international intermediaries.