Embrace Ghana Internet Exchange – Businesses urged

The Ghana Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA) has urged all domestic corporate businesses and academic institutions to embrace the Ghana Internet eXchange (GIX) by connecting their traffic to it since it will beat down cost and increase the value of data consumption. GISPA noted that currently only 25 per cent of local traffic is exchanged in Ghana and called on the National Communications Authority (NCA) to ensure that it is mandatory for all the telcos to direct about 90 per cent of local traffic through the GIX. Speaking to 3FM 92.7, President of Ghana Internet eXchange Association (GIX) Ernest Brown said “currently some traffic goes through GIX; some also go directly to Europe. But we need to get to a stage where we bring all of them completely to connect and interchange data on the eXchange”. He was speaking on the sidelines of the Peering Road Show for GISPA in Accra. He said businesses and academia must make good use of GIX since it not only has the potential but also the capacity to ensure value for speed and lower cost, compared to running their traffic through Europe. Mr Brown explained that institutions such as banks, academia and several other businesses hitherto have had to route their internet traffic to Europe and back before terminating. “But the advent of GIX allows local Internet service providers and network operators to easily exchange traffic within Ghana, while improving connectivity and services for their customers.” The GIX, which is an Internet exchange point, serves internet traffic in Ghana and allows local Internet service providers and network operators to easily exchange traffic within Ghana, while improving connectivity and services for their customers. “It is the availability of the eXchange, where applications such as Google cash sits that has for instance, made the use of Youtube videos much easier and faster as they are now cashed locally,” Mr Brown noted. He said so far only University of Ghana, Legon, is connected to the eXchange, adding that though most of the telcos are hooked onto the eXchange, “not all of them are connected. They all need to be encouraged to bring their traffic through the GIX, it will provide them with faster and lower spending and their data will be conserved locally. It will also bring down prices for users”. The GIX home page states: “The GIX is run and operated by the Ghana Internet eXchange Association (GIXA), an independent non-profit corporation established by the Ghana Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA) and other stakeholders The structure of the GIXA (GIX) is such that non-members of GISPA can also connect to the exchange. Hence it is open to all carriers (operators) who may want to exchange traffic locally. Deputy Minister of Communications George Andah was upbeat about government’s plan to ensure growth of the GIX and said they will ensure that there is growth and increased access that will also beat down prices for end users. By Gideon Sackitey|3FM|3news.com|Ghana Follow @3Newsgh]]>