The Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) says that Google has offered to provide a switch for its Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX) and that ISPA has accepted "this kind offer".<\/p>\n
According to ISPA’s Ant Brooks, ISPA and Google don’t have any details bedded down yet but there is an "in-principle" agreement for Google to support the exchange.<\/p>\n
It is currently not entirely certain what Google’s peering plans are but it is likely that Google will peer with other ISPs at CINX. <\/p>\n
According to industry speculation Internet Solutions (IS) will host local services for Google in a Cape Town datacentre and it would then make sense for Google to have a strong CINX presence.<\/p>\n
Brooks did not want to talk on Google’s behalf but said that although Google is currently not an ISPA member – which will automatically allow them to peer at CINX – they have been in discussions with the search giant to become an ISPA member.<\/p>\n
Another option will be for another ISP which is an ISPA member – like Internet Solutions – to connect Google to the Cape Town Internet exchange for easy peering with other ISPs.<\/p>\n
Internet Solutions, which is currently hosting the Johannesburg Internet Exchange, has made a proposal to host CINX. ISPA said that the IS proposal is currently being deliberated and that it will issue a statement once the CINX hosting arrangements are finalised.<\/p>\n
Internet Solutions said that they would love to host CINX, but the company could not provide feedback on whether they will ‘host Google’ as they could not ‘comment on clients who are or are not in their data centre.’<\/p>\n