The DRC will be this year’s host to the longest-running Internet development conference in Africa. From 20-24 August 2024, AfPIF will bring together infrastructure, service, and content providers to identify ways to improve network interconnection, lower the cost of connectivity, and increase the number of Internet users in the region. 

The event, which takes place at the Hilton Hotel in Kinshasa, will provide participants with global and regional insights to maximize opportunities to help grow resilient Internet infrastructure and affordable services in Africa. Organized by the Internet Society (ISOC) and the African IXP Association (AFIX) in collaboration with the Internet Service Providers Association of DRC, the conference will feature more than 500 participants representing companies across the continent and globally, including Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, the Internet Initiative Japan Lab, among others.

AfPIF was created to address the fact that most of Africa’s local Internet traffic is exchanged outside the continent. This results in slower speeds and increased costs. In the 14 years since its launch, Internet traffic exchanged within Africa has gone from 160 Mbps to over 4.6 Tbps. Key to this growth is the use of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). IXPs interconnect private, public, and academic networks, allowing them to exchange traffic locally. This improves the quality of service, makes local hosting viable, lowers the cost-of-service delivery, and increases fault tolerance.

“The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a market of 100 million people that borders nine countries and the Atlantic Ocean, is on the verge of a digital transformation. New cross-border backbone, metro fiber, and data center infrastructure are poised to bring Congo online and enhance regional integration. This will improve livelihoods, facilitate commerce, and promote cultural exchange,” said Kyle Spencer – Board Chair and Executive Director of the African IXP Association (AfIX).

“We are honored to host this year’s conference. The importance of IXPs in contributing to the development of the Internet in Africa cannot be overstated. We now have three IXPs in DRC that help provide fast, affordable Internet access to over 30.017.072 people, said Nico TSHINTU BAKAJIKA, President of the ISPA DRC.