Nairobi, Kenya—Tuesday, 10th December 2024 — In a transformative step toward enhancing internet connectivity across East Africa, the Kenya Internet Exchange Point (KIXP) has established a new peering Point of Presence (Pop) at the premier iXAfrica Data Centers NBOX1 facility. As the only hyper-scale data center in East and Central Africa, iXAfrica cements its position as the backbone of the region’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
With East Africa’s population nearing 500 million mark and internet penetration reaching over 35%, the demand for faster, reliable, and affordable internet services is unprecedented. As cloud adoption and data consumption soar, this partnership between KIXP and iXAfrica Data Centres marks a significant milestone and is designed to:
- Enhance Network Efficiency: The new PoP reduces latency by facilitating direct interconnections between networks. This improvement ensures faster and smoother online experiences for users and businesses across Kenya and beyond.
- Foster Regional Growth: By addressing regional traffic locally, the PoP enhances communication efficiency for East Africa’s growing digital economy, which is projected to exceed $10 billion in market value by 2025.
- Reduce Internet Costs: Localizing traffic exchange minimizes dependency on costly international routes, creating savings that directly benefit both Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and end-users.
Kenya, a recognized leader in digital innovation, continues to drive the region’s technological transformation. The strategic placement of the KIXP Pop at iXAfrica’s cutting-edge facility will:
• Support Over 400 Licensed Operators: Providing a robust infrastructure to help them deliver superior internet services to millions of users.
• Bridge the Digital Divide: Connecting hyperscalers and local networks to close gaps in content accessibility and improve service delivery.
• Attract Global Content Providers: The improved infrastructure positions Kenya as a gateway to Africa for international cloud and data providers, unlocking opportunities for faster content delivery.
“The collaboration with iXAfrica Data Centres is a significant milestone in our mission to enhance connectivity within Kenya and the region. Together, we are building a resilient and scalable internet infrastructure that empowers regional growth while ensuring accessible and efficient internet services for all.” stated Fiona Asonga, CEO, TESPOK.
East Africa’s interconnection has not only regional but global implications. The PoP’s optimization of traffic routing improves international internet performance and boosts the region’s appeal as a hub for investment. The initiative to enable seamless communication across national borders is an initiative that aligns with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2030.
“iXAfrica Data Centres is committed to shaping East Africa’s digital landscape by providing the advanced infrastructure required for transformational change. This partnership with KIXP strengthens our position as the leading hyperscale data centre in East and Central Africa,” added Snehar Shah CEO iXAfrica.
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About KIXP: The Kenya Internet Exchange Point (KIXP) plays a pivotal role in connecting networks and reducing internet costs in Kenya. As a neutral, non-profit organization, KIXP fosters collaboration and innovation to drive digital growth across the country.
About iXAfrica Data Centers:
iXAfrica Data Centres in Nairobi, Kenya is East Africa’s First and Largest Hyper-scale Carrier-neutral, AI-ready Data Centre and the latest digital habitat for cloud, colocation, and connectivity. iXAfrica provides world-class and highly resilient Data Centre infrastructure to create a vital part of the internet backbone of East Africa. With a Nairobi Campus (NBOX1) overall design capacity of 22.5MW, iXAfrica has the largest Data Centre project in the Greater East African region serving a total population of 300 million people. The campus is situated next to the main fiber optic communications arteries and is in close proximity to major and resilient electrical connections, capable of delivering high-availability and low-carbon power. Over 90% of Kenya’s electricity is generated from renewable/clean energy sources.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Salma Shabaan
Head of Public Relations
TESPOK/Kenya Internet Exchange Point (KIXP)
Email: Salma Shaban
Phone: 0727860639
Magnus Murage
Marketing Manager
iXAfrica Data Centres
Email: murageg@iXAfrica.co.ke
Phone: +254 793 973 584
