Zain, Etisalat, MTN Connect to IXPN

Zain, Etisalat and MTN, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators, are set to connect to Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria in few weeks, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
The landmark development will further foster local markets and enable digital inclusion in Nigeria and the region.
An Internet exchange point (IXP) is a physical infrastructure that allows several Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network operators exchange traffic between their networks, generally referred to as autonomous systems, by means of mutual peering agreements, which allow traffic to be exchanged at no cost.
Organisations that connect their networks to an IXP benefit from reduced reliance on expensive international transit for exchanging local traffic between themselves, and improved efficiency of their operations and communications.
Not only will this reduce transport costs and network latency, but will also ensure faster access to local content because local traffic is exchanged locally, rather than through one or more 3rd party networks including international links. This exchange of traffic between networks at an IXP is known as ‘peering’.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigation reveals that Zain has physically connected to the exchange, but its traffic is yet to follow through the pipe of the exchange. MTN is waiting for the signing of the necessary legal document for it to finally connect physically to the exchange.
Discussions between the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria and Etisalat have reach advanced stage which will cumulate into the fifth GSM operator hooking up to the exchange. These arrangements are expected to be completed by first quarter of next year.
The planned connection of the three GSM operators is coming barely six months after the expiration of deadline given to telecommunications operators and Internet Service Providers by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC had directed all telecom operators and ISPs to connect to the exchange before July 31 this year or face stiff sanctions. It was gathered that this directive was not heeded to especially by GSM operators as they claim that connection to such network involves some procedure that their group headquarters must sanction before they can be part of it.