Internet Exchange Revamp
The Internet Service Providers’ Association of South Africa (ISPA) has announced a set of sweeping changes to its policies for its Internet Exchange Points as part of its strategy to promote interconnection between local ISPs.
ISPA currently runs a Johannesburg Internet Exchange Point to facilitate interconnection between networks. Networks typocally exchange traffic to save costs. ISPA plans to reintroduce a Cape Town Internet Exchange Point soon. The exchanges encourage the local routing of Internet traffic not destined for international locations.
“With the introduction of new electronic communications network service (ECNS) and electronic communications service (ECS) licences earlier this year, the environment that our members operate in has changed considerably,” said Rob Hunter, Chair of ISPA’s Internet Exchange Point Working Group.
Under the new policy, ISPA has repealed the equivalent line charge model and replaced it with a port charge and host benefit fee model that will help bring costs down to the benefit of ISPs and consumers alike.
The equivalent line charges were introduced to level the playing field since some companies connecting to the Internet Exchange Points enjoyed an unfair advantage over others. While most participants had to lease data lines to connect to an Internet Exchange Point, ISPA members located in the same building could connect to the Internet Exchange Point at minimal cost.
Examples of non-ISPA members that might want to peer at the Internet Exchange Points include international content and service providers (including search engines like Google), mobile network operators and incumbents such as Telkom. By peering at the Internet Exchange Points, these players can offer their customers and users benefits such as higher speeds and better quality of service.
ISPA has been evaluating proposals from ISPs that are interested in hosting the Johannesburg and Cape Town Internet Exchange Points for the 2009 to 2012 period and the organisation will soon announce the details of these new hosting agreements, said Hunter.
One industry expert, who asked to remain anonymous, says that the latest developments are positive and that there more ISPA members who are willing to peer for free. He however points out that the port charge only allows an ISP to peer, and that all peering agreements will still have to be negotiated between parties.
He says that it remains to be seen whether the latest changes in the ISPA peering policies will result in a higher utilization of the Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX).
Internet Exchange discussion
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