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The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) recently hosted a capacity-building program for its member organisations on how to localise traffic using Border Gateway Protocols (BGP).
IXPN is a not-for-profit internet exchange point (IXP) founded in 2006 by the Nigerian Communications Commission in partnership with Internet Service Providers of Nigeria to reduce connectivity costs.
Meanwhile, BGP, according to experts, allows the internet to exchange routing information between autonomous systems.
However, attendees of the event described it as an eye-opener in terms of localizing traffic and growing the Internet ecosystem in Nigeria.
They noted that the training affords them the opportunity to have knowledge of new global trends, and best practices in the interconnectivity of networks, particularly when it comes to peering with an Internet Exchange Point (IXP)
Philip Omugbe, IP engineer at Hoops Telecom Limited, who participated in the programme said, “The Border Gateway Protocol training with IXPN was informative and I learned some new things when it comes to peering with an internet exchange point.”
According to the attendees, the training bridges the knowledge gap that exists within the Internet ecosystem, as they now gain a proper understanding of how the BGP works and how they can fully utilize their connectivity to the exchange point for maximum impact.
Bunmi Adeleye, general manager and technical operator at Syscodes communications Limited, disclosed that the training came at the best time because many network operators and engineers are unfamiliar with the workings of the Internet Exchange Point.
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“The training was quite hands-on, interactive, and expository as there were practical live LAB sessions. Many thanks to the IXPN team, and I hope they sustain the momentum,” he said.
Meanwhile, Muhammed Rudman, chief executive officer at IXPN, described BGP training as a value-added service provided by IXPN to its member organizations and other stakeholders.
He stated that the training is necessary because the dynamics of the Internet ecosystem are changing, adding the need to educate member organizations and other sector stakeholders on current technology trends and best practices, particularly as they relate to connectivity to the eXchange Point.
“The goal of today’s training is to provide members of the Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) with the fundamentals and workings of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), which is critical to us as a one-stop peering point for service and content providers,” Muhammed said.
He also revealed that capacity building for its members will be carried out across Nigeria, having previously done so in Kano and Lagos. According to him, the next bus stop will be Abuja, followed by Port Harcourt later this year.
In recent years, the organisers disclosed that IXPN has established eight Points of Presence (POP) across Nigeria in an effort to keep Internet traffic local and, ultimately, reduce capital flight. While four are in Lagos, the others are in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano. The Lagos POP connects to each other as well as the POPs in the other four cities in an effort to reach the unserved and underserved.
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