The Internet Society, a global non-profit dedicated to ensuring Internet access for all, has urged the expansion of Internet Exchange Point (IXP) deployment throughout Africa. This call to action was among ten key policy recommendations stemming from their recent Internet Development Conference 2025 held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The organization, with over 130 chapters globally, emphasizes that establishing and expanding IXPs will enhance local traffic routing, reduce latency, and decrease internet costs.
“While we observe encouraging growth in internet resilience across Africa, challenges persist in connecting the unconnected and guaranteeing equitable access for everyone. Therefore, one solution to these challenges is the creation of more IXPs in Africa,” stated Dawit Bekele, Regional Vice President for Africa at the Internet Society.
He highlighted that the Internet Development Conference underscored the importance of infrastructure development and paved the way for stronger regional collaboration on Internet infrastructure, regulatory advancements, and digital innovation.
The Internet Development Conference 2025 also reinforced the need for investment in digital infrastructure and progressive policy changes to foster a stronger and more inclusive Internet ecosystem in Africa.
Other key policy calls to action from the conference include:
- Developing digital skills and literacy programs
- Harmonizing digital strategies and regulations
- Bridging the access gap through targeted interventions
- Prioritizing infrastructure development
- Sharing, measuring, and monitoring internet connectivity