DFA provides optic fibre for annual Internet conference

INTERNET

Dark Fibre Africa (DFA), in conjunction with SEACOM, has provided two dedicated optical fibre cables to the Hilton Sandton Hotel, the venue for the 3rd African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) conference. Delegates will experience Internet speeds of 2Gbps, 2000 times faster than an average home connection.

The event is organised by the Internet Society, specifically addressing interconnection challenges together with the wide ranging opportunities the African continent offers. AfPIF aims to foster national and cross-border interconnection opportunities by providing a forum where key players from infrastructure and service providers, ISPs, regulators and policy makers can engage in a relaxed but business like environment, sharing their experiences and learning from experts in the field.

DFA’s CEO Gustav Smit says he is privileged to be sponsoring the fibre infrastructure for the event. “We are so excited to showcase the capabilities and speed of fibre. DFA has already laid in excess of 6 400 kilometres of infrastructure across South Africa and is open to all licensed players on equal terms. Any service provider, licensed to do so by ICASA, may rent fibres from DFA for their own transmission and backbone infrastructure purposes."

AfPIF 2012 will provide a platform for open discussion and regional problem solving as well as focusing on social and business networking. At AfPIF 2012, the conversation will focus on the regional infrastructure, content and policy issues that are critical components of transit deficits. As a multi-stakeholder forum, the event will foster cross-border interconnection opportunities and address the issues and challenges of the regional Internet transit deficit.

AfPIF also aims to promote the establishment of new, and the growth of existing, Internet Exchange Points through building community co-operation and demonstrating the value proposition of local, national and regional interconnection.

Furthermore, AfIF aims to bridge the information asymmetry with respect to peering and transit economics. The peering and transit fundamentals enable the development of interconnection relationships and strategies for operators at the local, regional and global levels.

“AfPIF provides a venue for productive technical discussions and business relationships that can be forged to augment internet infrastructure and services in Africa,” concludes Smit.