KIXP

The Kenya Internet Exchange Point (KIXP) is the facility which keeps Kenyan Internet traffic in Kenya. It allows Kenyan Internet Service Providers to easily exchange traffic within Kenya, without having to send those messages across multiple international hops to reach their destination while improving connectivity and services for their customers.

KIXP is run and operated by the Telecommunication Service Providers Association of Kenya , which is a professional, non-profit organization representing the interests of ISPs and other telecommunication service providers in Kenya.

The concept of Internet exchange points is build around interconnecting internet service providers at one point and utilizing dynamic routing techniques, exchanging traffic destined for local services providers connected to the exchange point locally without utilizing the expensive international link capacity.

The KIXP provides an opportunity for Kenyan Internet service providers to peer (exchange traffic) at a national level. Furthermore work is also in progress to interconnect the East Africa Internet Exchange Points (UIXP, TIXP & KIXP).

Prior to an IXP, all inter-ISP traffic, both domestic and foreign bound must be exchanged through exchanges outside the country. ISPs therefore send all outbound traffic through their international links most commonly satellite and occasionally submarine fiber. International links entail both upstream and downstream packet traffic, the costs of which must be borne by either the sending or the receiving ISP.

With the presence of an IXP, domestic traffic is peered at the exchange point, freeing the international links from congestion, enhancing faster speeds of data and reducing costs and delays.

ADVANTAGES OF CONNECTING TO LOCAL IXP (NATIONAL EXCHANGE)

In Kenya the cost of Internet bandwidth and connectivity is highest compared to Uganda and Tanzania. While we acknowledge that this is partly contributed by the existing regulatory regime, the situation also presents an opportunity to reduce the dependence of the expensive International links by keeping local traffic local.

Statistics have shown that in Kenya on average 30% of the traffic transiting the International links via Jambonet is local. In essence the cost of sending a local destined email is equal to the cost of sending an internationally destined email. To overcome this anomaly, connecting to a local or National exchange in this case KIXP ensures that the cost of sending a locally destined email is at a lower cost.

With the offsetting of the local traffic to the exchange point, the International link utilization freed by 30% meaning that your organization can postpone upgrading of the link for an additional period. Therefore translating to saving on the International link capacity. These savings can further be extended to the organizations customers.

Internet use is enhanced when the end users realize fast and efficient services. Interconnecting to the KIXP will improve access to the local content. Consequently improved local communications, download and uploads are realised hence increased customer satisfaction in the quality of service provided.