By Martin Ekpeke
The Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Muhammed Rudman, today announced a strategic roadmap for 2026, headlined by the launch of the “upgrade & save” pricing model by the organisation.
Announcing the pricing model at the annual Members Engagement Forum held today in Lagos, Rudman noted that the initiative is designed to help member organizations transition from multiple 100G ports to high-capacity 400G infrastructure, addressing the immediate demand for massive throughput driven by AI, 8K video, and cloud-native workloads.
According to Rudman, the high-capacity demand from members is no longer a future concern but a today reality. “The new pricing model significantly lowers the barrier to entry for 400G migration by offering substantial cost savings compared to maintaining legacy ports,” he explained.
By consolidating infrastructure, members can simplify rack management, reduce cable complexity, and lower their unit costs as their data needs grow.
Beyond pricing, IXPN unveiled a comprehensive technical upgrade plan to bolster the stability of the Nigerian internet fabric. The organization is conducting a network overhaul by upgrading core switches to 400G and enhancing key links connecting the Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt hubs.
To improve security, they are introducing a self-service DDoS mitigation mechanism that allows peers to neutralize volumetric attacks before they saturate port capacity. IXPN is also deploying a local AS112 Anycast instance to handle leaked reverse DNS lookups and improve overall network efficiency. Finally, the market expansion strategy includes plans to establish new exchange points at additional data centers and partner with other internet exchange points across the continent to expand their reach.
A core pillar of the 2026 strategy is education, and IXPN plans to deliver specialized training to create a pipeline of skilled engineers. The curriculum includes training on BGP fundamentals to help engineers understand Autonomous Systems and path attributes. It also focuses on RPKI and routing security to implement the Resource Public Key Infrastructure that prevents route hijacking and IP spoofing. To place Nigerian ISPs on the global map of trusted networks, the program covers MANRS compliance through filtering and anti-spoofing techniques. Additionally, the training introduces network automation using Linux, Python, and FRRouting to help engineers automate routine routing updates.
“By delivering these courses, IXPN does more than just sell ports; we create a pipeline of skilled engineers who will grow the ecosystem,” Rudman stated.