Sustainable Peering Infrastructure Funding Program

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) are effective in improving the end-user experience and lowering access costs while catalyzing the development of the local Internet ecosystem.

We work with local communities to build IXPs in markets where they are needed, enhance existing IXPs to realize their full potential, and further develop organizations and communities that support peering and interconnection. Grant funds are available to assist in training, capacity building, community, local, and regional development, and equipment purchases (switches, optic modules, servers, and routers).

The Internet Society’s work is partially funded by generous grants from Meta and ICANN.

Our peering and interconnection work endeavors to:

Further our 50/50 Vision to ensure at least half of all Internet traffic in emerging economies stays local by 2025
Strengthen our collaboration with regional partners on IXP development in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and other regions
Implement the IXP initiative of the Coalition for Digital Africa

Program Objectives

Increase the amount of Internet traffic within local infrastructure, reducing costs associated with traffic exchange between networks.
Provide support to build new and enhance existing IXPs to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Champion the development of peering and interconnection by building local capacity in collaboration with local or regional entities.

Focus Areas

1. IXP Operational Support

We support establishing or enhancing IXPs in markets that do not have them, where additional capacity will be useful, and where assistance will help the IXP realize its full potential in the Internet ecosystem. Developed markets often have developed IXP infrastructure, so our primary focus is on:

Emerging economies
Low-income economies
Small island developing states

2. Peering Ecosystem Organizational Support

We also seek to strengthen the peering ecosystem by supporting organizations and systems that improve interconnection through capacity building, training, community building, and infrastructure development.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from legally registered entities that:

Operate an existing IXP that needs improvements;
Plan to build a new IXP;
Champion peering and interconnection in a specific country or region; or
Provide a positive contribution to the entire IXP ecosystem.

Application Review Process

There are 2 windows during which applications will be accepted: from 28 January to 27 March, 2025, at 21:00 UTC and from 1 July to 21 August, 2025 at 21:00 UTC. Applications are reviewed by the Internet Society, the Internet Society Foundation, and external experts to determine if they meet the eligibility requirements and are aligned with the focus areas. Please note that this process could take up to ten (10) weeks.

Read this overview for more information about the program and application process.

Selection Criteria

We determine where funding will play a critical role in ensuring that unconnected and under-connected communities have faster, cheaper, and more resilient Internet access.

There are two categories of funding available: IXP Operational Support and Peering Ecosystem Support. Please note that the criteria is different for each category.

1. IXP Operational Support:

For existing IXPs:

A substantial market with at least three (3) independent ISPs and at least 20% Internet penetration rate
Data demonstrating that:
- Latency and performance could be better optimized by the creation of a new IXP in the local market, and/or
- Local traffic costs could be considerably lowered by improved peering infrastructure
Community of interest and local champion(s)
Input from relevant regional organizations
Status of an existing IXP (if any)
Completion of IXP Self-Assessment Tool within the last 12 months

For new IXPs:

Endorsement from local network operators (minimum 3)
Availability of a neutral location with a multistakeholder community
Agreement to run the IXP as open and nonprofit

2. Peering Ecosystem Support:

Projects that strengthen peering and interconnection at a local or regional level through capacity building, training, community building, or infrastructure development
Projects that provide a meaningful service, tool, or activity to the global peering ecosystem

Funding

Funding availability varies based on the needs of the IXP or organization. Grants are available up to USD $70,000, and projects can run for up to 12 months.

Eligible funded activities include IXP equipment, reasonable operational, governance, and business development costs, IP transit capacity to promote local CDN cache content distribution, and technical, policy, and best practice capacity-building and workshops.

How to Apply

Applicants are strongly encouraged to register their organization in the Foundation’s grants management system, Fluxx, prior to the application window opening. Only applications submitted in the Foundation’s grants management system, Fluxx, by the deadline will be considered for funding. We encourage you to submit your application early.

Applications may be submitted in English, French, or Spanish. Incomplete submissions that do not meet eligibility requirements will not be considered (see “Eligibility” section above).

For reference, you can see the documents required to apply: Application form, Budget, Workplan, Equipment Support Request template, and IXP Servers and Networking Equipment form (IXP Operational Support applications only).

Reporting

The funding recipient IXP or organization will submit an interim narrative and budget report directly to the Foundation using the online Fluxx platform. Interim reports are due approximately every six months and a final report is due four weeks after the project is completed.

Questions?

You can reach the peering team at the Internet Society by emailing us at [email protected].