Peering Fellowship

About the Fellowship

This engaging six-month program is designed to equip 15 peering and interconnection professionals with skills, knowledge, and tools to address interconnection and peering challenges while maximizing opportunities that grow the Internet and develop the community at peering events. This fellowship is one of the ways that the Internet Society is supporting affordable and reliable access efforts. 

Expectations:

• Virtual content coverage: Participate in online sessions and collaborative forums.
• Attend an in-person peering event: Engage firsthand with the global peering community.
• Technical and advocacy based training: Grow expertise in routing, IXPs, and Internet policy.
• Engagement with industry professionals: Forge connections that broaden your regional and global impact.
• Drive local impact: Deliver work that supports peering and interconnection advancements in your country or region.

Why Apply?

This program brings the opportunity for you to:

• Join a network of knowledgeable Internet leaders who continue to develop their skills and competencies, actively support Internet Society’s mission, and advocate for an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet.
• Deepen your subject expertise through training from experienced peering professionals
• Benefit from sharing networks, learning from each other’s approaches, working together, and forging relationships that will significantly enhance peering and interconnection efforts in your community, country, and region during relevant peering events.
• Contribute to making Internet access affordable, reliable, and resilient by improving local Internet interconnection infrastructure and advocating for an enabling policy environment that supports a thriving Internet ecosystem.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Applications are now open.

Applicants should be individuals actively engaged in Internet policy, business, and/or technical development related to peering and transit. Interested individuals must complete an online application form.

Candidates who meet the following are welcome to apply:

• Based or living in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Africa, or the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.*
• Have a passport valid until June 2026 to be able to travel to the events.
• Are able to attend sessions and travel to one of these events:
  • AfPIF, 19-21 August 2025
  • LACNOG, 6-10 October 2025
  • Peering Asia, 4-6 November 2025
• Have at least 3 years of experience in the Internet industry.
• Availability to fully participate in the six-month experience.
• Be available for virtual meetings between 11:00-15:00 UTC.
• Have reliable access to broadband Internet connection and relevant devices.
• Have a working proficiency level in verbal and written English. (This fellowship will be delivered in English).
• Be able to fully participate in the six-month experience which requires a commitment of approximately four hours a week.

* Participants from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States are encouraged to apply.

Selection Process

Only applicants who submit their applications will be considered for selection.

• Once the application period closes, all submissions will undergo two review stages, each conducted by separate review committees. 
• Please note that the review committees will not have access to any applicant demographic information. This means they will not see names, gender, contact details, or any other personal identifiers.
• After the review process is complete, we will contact all candidates to inform them whether they have been selected to move forward with their application.

Peering Events

These are in-person events where regional peering stakeholders come together to address challenges, celebrate wins, and connect with each other. Each fellow attends one assigned regionally relevant event over the course of the fellowship.

Travel support for one peering event:

• A round-trip air ticket to one peering event.
• Hotel accommodation for the duration of the event.
• A fixed stipend for additional needs.
• Please note that the Internet Society does not offer financial support for visa-related costs, and travel arrangements are specifically fixed for the calendarized workshop dates only.

Key Dates

Tentative Timeline for 2025:

Program Partners