The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) held its annual members’ engagement forum in Lagos over the weekend. The forum focused on the importance of domesticating internet traffic in Nigeria. IXPN CEO Muhammed Rudman said the forum is an important platform for members to work together and share milestones.
He stressed IXPN’s commitment to making Nigeria’s internet exchange ecosystem stronger and improving the digital landscape through efficient interconnectivity. “The intention of setting up Nigeria’s internet exchange point is to maintain Nigerian internet traffic within the country, domesticating local traffic and reducing costs associated with accessing local internet content,” Rudman said. This initiative aims to improve local connectivity and the overall internet experience for users.
It also encourages the creation of local internet content and provides a centralized launch point for services. Rudman talked about the history and growth of internet traffic in Nigeria.
Domestication of internet traffic benefits
In 2008, Nigeria generated internet traffic between seven and eight megabits per second, mainly from Zenith Registries and a few content-hosting organizations. The figure grew significantly when Google formed a peering relationship with IXPN, increasing traffic from less than 20 megabits per second to 120 megabits per second. By 2012, the traffic had risen to 600 megabits per second, reached 125 gigabits per second in 2019, 250 gigabits per second in 2021, and surged to 900 gigabits per second by December 2024.
Rudman also mentioned that a current survey revealed 75% of IXPN members were exchanging more than 25% of their traffic locally, while around 4% were exchanging over 75% of their traffic locally. “The objective is to ensure that we domesticate our internet and make it really cheaper,” he stated. Discussing the economic benefits, Rudman pointed out that the domestication of internet traffic in Nigeria would not only optimize internet banking and other online services but also ensure that a significant portion of the nation’s internet exchange is more cost-effective.
He stressed the goal of achieving at least 80% domestication of internet traffic. The forum concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to collaborate in achieving these objectives, ensuring Nigeria’s digital future is both robust and self-sustainable.
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