The Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) held its annual members’ engagement forum in Lagos, emphasizing the importance of domesticating internet traffic generated within the country. IXPN CEO Muhammed Rudman highlighted the organization’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s internet exchange ecosystem and improving local connectivity. Rudman noted that the primary goal of establishing Nigeria’s internet exchange point was to keep local traffic within the country and reduce costs associated with accessing local internet content.
This initiative aims to enhance the overall internet experience for users, encourage the creation of local content, and provide a centralized launch point for services. “In 2008, internet traffic generated in Nigeria ranged between seven and eight megabits per second,” Rudman said.
Focus on local internet traffic
“Although the traffic was minimal then, it started to increase notably when Google peered with IXPN. Subsequently, internet traffic surged from under 20 megabits per second to 120 megabits per second, and by 2012, it had climbed to 600 megabits per second. In 2019, traffic further increased to 125 gigabits per second, reaching 250 gigabits per second in 2021, and by December 2024, it peaked at 900 gigabits per second.”
Rudman also discussed the economic impact of domesticating local traffic, stating, “Aside from the benefits we derive from internet banking and other online services, we do not substantially benefit from our current internet structure because the traffic predominantly involves downloading rather than uploading.
Our objective is to ensure that at least 80 per cent of our traffic is domesticated.”
A recent survey conducted by IXPN indicates that 75 per cent of its members are exchanging above 25 per cent of their traffic locally, while approximately 4 per cent are exchanging over 75 per cent of their traffic locally. The organization’s goal is to make the internet significantly cheaper by domesticating traffic. The IXPN forum underscores the critical role of local internet traffic domestication in reducing costs, enhancing connectivity, and driving the creation of local content, thus contributing to the economic and digital growth of Nigeria.
