Remote Peering: an African View Point by Mark Tinka
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Mark Tinka discusses the evolution of internet peering in Africa. Peering started simply through university and government partnerships but has grown significantly. There is now fiber connectivity between African countries but internet traffic still often routes through Europe due to economic and regulatory factors. SEACOM runs an IP/MPLS network across Africa and partnerships with exchanges. They have launched remote peering solutions to help build exchanges like one in Mombasa and provide interconnection over their MPLS network to facilitate more direct African peering.
Remote Peering: an African View Point by Mark Tinka
- 1. Extending Transit Networks: Impact on Peering Mark Tinka Head of Engineering SEACOM Johannesburg, South Africa Date: 03/09/2013 AUTHORS: MARK TINKA 18.03.2011
- 3. AGENDA The objecJve of today is…. ● The EvoluJon of Peering in Africa ● The Growing Desire for Regional InterconnecJvity in Africa ● What Are SEACOM Up To? 18.03.2011
- 4. The EvoluCon of Peering in Africa Peering in most of Africa started humbly: ● o o o o Free locaJon provided by university or government. Back & forth discussions among inexperienced operators – BGP. A free switch and other bits offered by donors. We have 32 known exchange points covering most of Africa. We wanted more (traffic): ● o o o Naively wanted to interconnect African regions. The economics were hard to understand then. Presence of caches, CDN’s, roots, was a quicker win. 18.03.2011
- 5. The Growing Desire for Regional InterconnecCvity in Africa But we’re now back to the same quesJon: ● o o There is fibre between African countries now. Yet we sJll peer or route through Europe a great deal. Possible issues: ● o o o o The economics sJll play a big role. Cross-‐border interconnecJvity is not straighgorward. Regulatory framework could help things. Providers are not stepping up. 18.03.2011
- 6. What Are SEACOM Up To SEACOM: ● o o o o Run an IP/MPLS backbone across our cable system. Johannesburg, Cape Town, Mtunzini and Maputo in the south. Dar Es Salaam, Mombasa and Nairobi in the east. Marseille, London and Amsterdam in Europe. For peering: ● o o o o o Launched a “Remote Peering” soluJon. With AMS-‐IX, TESPOK to build an exchange point in Mombasa. Partnership with NAP Africa from South Africa. Partnerships with FranceIX, LINX and AMS-‐IX in Europe. Provide interconnecJvity over SEACOM’s MPLS network. 18.03.2011
- 7. Thank you. Q&A [email protected] SEACOM South Africa 2nd Floor, Imola Building The Campus, 57 Sloane Street Bryanston, Johannesburg 18.03.2011 T +27 11 575 0171 E [email protected] www.seacom.mu