IXPs are technical infrastructures that enable a faster, cheaper, and more reliable internet experience by bringing multiple networks from the private, public, and educational sectors together to connect and exchange Internet traffic. IXPs can help countries tap into the global Internet economy by improving a country’s access to the Internet, opening a world of possibilities with minimal investment.
The memorandum would serve the whole Asia-Pacific region but will benefit most of the nations whose local Internet traffic is exchanged over international links. This includes landlocked countries, emerging economies that require more localization of their Internet traffic, and small island developing states.
The signatories are committed to mobilizing joint resources to facilitate the development of IXPs in the Asia-Pacific region, and include:
The Internet Society – A global non-profit organization whose mission is to support and promote the development of the Internet as global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people’s lives, and a force for good in society.
The Asia Pacific Internet Exchange Association (APIX) – An association of IXPs in the Asia-Pacific region that serves as a forum for knowledge sharing and technical collaboration.
APNIC (Asia Pacific Network Information Centre) – The Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for the Asia-Pacific. In addition to distributing and managing Internet number resources, APNIC has supported Internet infrastructure deployment and capacity building in the region for more than 20 years.
The APNIC Foundation – A foundation whose mission is to increase investment in Internet development in the Asia-Pacific region through various partnerships focused on education and training, human capacity building, community development, research, and related projects and activities.