AIXP Status report 2011

1. AIXP Status Report -2011
Presented by:
Ismail M. Settenda, B.Sc., MBA-IT
AIXP Co-Technical Manager and R&D Manager Habari Node
Ltd

2. Introduction
The Arusha IXP (a physical infrastructure that allows different
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to connect to each other and
exchange local traffic between their networks by means of
mutual peering agreements) has been operational now for
about 5 years since its inception in June 2006 and initially
started with 3 connected members namely;
 BOL,
 Cybernet,
 Habari Node Ltd (Arusha Node Marie) and 3 pledges to join
from the other ISP’s.
The AIXP was setup and has been maintained to date by the
joint efforts for the ISP’s in Arusha with support from TISPA
and TCRA.

3. To date
The AIXP has 5 connected members now including Milan and
Nexus Digital. Which is close to 80-90% of the local web surfers
in Arusha being able to by-pass inter or intra national routes and
interconnect directly via the exchange other than through one
or more third party traffic controllers that are usually the
networks based in the western countries or more recently Dar-
es-salaam.
The big effect here was that as a result of connecting to each
other directly locally, Arusha ISP’s were now enjoying faster
loading time as in more value for the buck/prices and better
security for their customers.
More so Arusha become the first non-capital urban center in
East and Central Africa to have its own Internet Exchange Point.

4. AIXP

5. Then and Now
 Then the goal and idea for the AIXP, was and still is to ‘keep
local content local’ and even then as shown by the traffic
indicated below we had traffic:
 Max Average Current
 In 613.6 kb/s (0.1%) 92.2 kb/s (0.0%) 60.2 kb/s (0.0%)
 Out 617.1 kb/s (0.1%) 95.7 kb/s (0.0%) 63.7 kb/s (0.0%)

6. Then and Now
 So there is some growth though not the kind we initially
expected. Further analysis of the traffic shows that this traffic
comes from the need to cache (local storage) namely O.S
updates namely windows and Linux, Antivirus, maps, torrents
and other digital data that is frequently downloaded and the
need is for us develop or retain local traffic i.e. to host local
material i.e. local websites download.

7. Notable Days
Promising potential on some days we reached 40
Mbs,and below is the weeks average of 14 Mbs.

8. Challenges
 A number of issues that came up as a result of our initial
success on launching and the main two were achieving
continuity or reliability. Here our main challenge was keeping
the equipment online as we had power issues.
 The second was the need to reach a 'critical mass' to optimize
IXP usage as AIXP users were aware the IXP was operating
well below its designed and intended capacity and so why the
low traffic? We of course supposed the numbers of peers was
still too low.

9. Way forward
 Now, as we speak we are connected to the fibre backbone and this opens
up a multitude of opportunities i.e. local banks sites, BoT, TRA, and TISCAN
to name a few are connected to the TIX and are offering real business
applications to banks, clearing agents etc. over TIX in Dar. This is
commendable and encourages internet growth in the country. In Arusha
by extension we can offer the same benefits to our clients mainly because
we are connected to this exchange point.
 Emphasis on generation of local skills and management; i.e. staffing and
training. Better reporting and tapping into the local needs and demands
on the Internet
 Innovative ideas and proposal to encourage local growth content.

10. Contacts
Website: www.aixp.or.tz
Email: info@aixp.or.tz
Tel: 255-27-2504220/255-784-424240