The Internet Society has strengthened its commitment to Africa’s technology development by selecting 23 fellows from 20 countries to participate at the annual Africa Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF).
Through the fellowship program, participants from countries that exchange a lot of content locally will get a chance to share experiences with countries that are at the preliminary stages of setting up local infrastructure. The meeting is taking place in Tanzania from August 30th to September 1st 2016.
Instituted in 2010, the fellowship is part of AfPIF’s efforts to bring more African technology experts together to advance and influence peering and interconnection on the continent. Through the fellowship programme, industry thought leaders who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to participate in the forum are given a platform to share ideas and experiences aimed at increasing multi-stakeholder participation for an interconnected Africa.
The annual AfPIF forum has facilitated discussions on African Internet infrastructure challenges, including terrestrial capacity, national and regional Internet Exchange Point (IXP) development, local content development, connectivity costs and international peering. Entering the sixth year now, the forum has recorded a steady increase in the number of applicants for the fellowship, with this year alone attracting 23 finalists out of 120 applications.
As Africa’s premier peering event, the fellowship brings together individuals actively engaged in Internet policy, business and technical development relating to peering and transit, and will be seeking to have the participants share their experiences on ways to improve the running and administering of new or existing IXPs, Meet potential IXP members from the same or different countries, Promote public awareness and evangelize peering in their respective countries and regions.
The deliberations from the AfPIF forum have provided participants with a chance to advance and influence national/regional policies on peering as well as cross-border Internet interconnection and this year will be no different. With a programme running for three days, the fellows are set to benefit from deliberations on; Interconnection, promoting content in Africa, Policy and Regulation, the different business models of IXPs, Interconnection and Data Centre Operations, Peering and Transit Technical Tutorials as well as policy and regulatory matters.
The fellowship program call for applications was open for a month, closing in June 2016 and sought experts in Internet peering policy, business and those working towards the development of IXPs in their respective countries with the finalists being announced in July 2016.
Over the years, the number of AfPIF fellows has grown steadily from an initial 11 fellowships in 2010 when the program begun, 15 in 2011, 18 in 2012, 28 in 2013, 30 in 2014, 16 in 2015 and 23 this year.
The 2016 AfPIF Fellows are:
- Livingstone Kalu (Nigeria), eStream Networks
- Ghislain Nkeramugaba (Rwanda), RICTA/RINEX
- Ivy Hoetu (Ghana), National Communications Authority
- Philippe Junior SIBIRO (Central African Republic), SPJ Labs
- Jean-Baptiste Millogo (Burkina Faso), AIRTEL Burkina Faso
- Ousmane Moussa Tessa (Niger), Niger-REN
- Randrianarivony Nirinarisantatra (Madagascar), iRENALA
- Janvier Ngnoulaye (Cameroon), University of Yaounde/ISOC Cameroon
- Nico Tshintu Bakajika (Democratic Republic of Congo),ISPA-DRC/KINIX
- Asegid Legesse Teshome (Ethiopia), Ethio Telecom
- Hervé Typamm (Togo), WARCIP
- Brahim ousmane mustapha (Chad), SYDONIA Chad
- Kpetermeni Siakor (Liberia), Liberia Internet Exchange Point Association
- Islam Abou El Ata (Morocco), CAS-IX
- Gabriel Kapumpe (Zambia), Zambia Telecommunications Company LTD
- Eusebio Miku Cornelius (Tanzania), Habari Node Ltd. and Arusha Internet eXchange Point
- Christian Muhirwa (Rwanda), Broadband Systems Corporation
- Mucowimana Nepomucene (Burundi), ARCT
- Ali Bakri Mustafa Elfaki (Sudan), National Information Center
- Francisco Mabila (Mozambique), UEM/MOZIX
- Kiemde Wênden tôe fâa Franck (Burkina Faso), Burkina Faso Internet EXchange Point (BFIX)
- Assangbe Woto Gbetondji Vivien (Benin), Benin Telecoms Infrustructures SA
- Anibe Onuche (Nigeria), Internet Exchange Points of Nigeria (IXPN)
Get to know our 2016 AfPIF Fellows.
AfPIF is a multi-stakeholder forum that seeks participation and contribution from key players such as infrastructure providers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), international financial institutions, policy-makers and regulators in order to exchange ideas to advance and influence national/regional policies on peering and cross-border Internet interconnection.
The forum marks six years of successful planning as a non-profit event, relying on international sponsorship and support. The first AfPIF was convened in 2010 and it has since become an important calendar event for peering coordinators, ISPs, regulators, content and infrastructure providers.
If you want to join AfPIF from the comfort of your home join us on LiveStream!