IXPN At 20: Nigeria’s Internet Infrastructure Enters New Phase

Twenty years after it was established to strengthen local Internet interconnection, the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) is looking beyond its two-decade milestone, with the organisation focusing on the infrastructure, skills and partnerships needed to support the next phase of Nigeria’s digital economy.

IXPN, established in 2006 as a neutral platform for Internet Service Providers, telecommunications operators, content providers, data centres and other networks to exchange Internet traffic locally, is marking its 20th anniversary with a month-long programme of activities.

The anniversary, themed “20 Years of Building Nigeria’s Internet,” will bring together industry stakeholders to examine the evolution of Internet interconnection in Nigeria and what will be required to strengthen the country’s Internet infrastructure in the years ahead.

The programme comes amid growing demand for digital services, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, streaming platforms, fintech and other Internet-dependent services, placing greater demands on connectivity, network resilience and technical capacity.

Chief Executive Officer of IXPN, Muhammed Rudman, said the anniversary was an opportunity not only to reflect on the organisation’s contribution to Nigeria’s Internet ecosystem but also to prepare for the challenges ahead.

“IXPN@20 is more than a celebration of an organisation. It is an opportunity to recognise the people, institutions and partnerships that have contributed to the development of Internet interconnection in Nigeria over the past two decades, while preparing the next generation to take Nigeria’s Internet forward,” Rudman said.

He said IXPN had evolved from a relatively small interconnection initiative in 2006 into an important component of Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure.

According to him, the next phase would require stronger resilience, expanded interconnection, improved technical capacity and broader participation across the Internet ecosystem.

As part of the anniversary activities, IXPN will focus on developing the next generation of professionals who will build and operate Nigeria’s Internet infrastructure.

The Student Internet Infrastructure Discovery Programme will bring together about 100 students from universities and other tertiary institutions offering ICT-related programmes across the six geopolitical zones.

Participants will be introduced to Internet exchange, network operations, Internet Service Providers, data centres and the evolution of Nigeria’s Internet ecosystem.

The programme will also include visits to data centres, including Open Access Data Centres, Rack Centre and Digital Realty, as well as discussions on internships and career opportunities in Internet infrastructure.

IXPN will also collaborate with the Nigeria IPv6 Council and AFRINIC on an IPv6 capacity-building programme for network operators, engineers, universities and other technical stakeholders.

The practical training is expected to strengthen technical capacity for IPv6 deployment as Nigerian networks continue to expand.

The organisation will also use the anniversary to promote greater participation of women in Internet infrastructure through the IXPN@20 Women in Internet Infrastructure Forum.

The forum, themed “Women in Technology: Breaking the Barriers, Building the Future,” will bring together industry leaders, technical professionals, young professionals and students to discuss opportunities in network engineering, peering, data centres, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, DNS, IPv6 and Internet governance.

Beyond the forum, IXPN said it would encourage industry players to support mentorship, professional certifications, internships, technical training, facility visits and employment pathways for women entering the sector.

The anniversary programme will also feature the Nigeria Peering and Interconnection Forum, bringing together network operators, content providers, data centres, regulators and other stakeholders to discuss peering, routing, interconnection, resilience and local content delivery.

IXPN is also producing a special documentary and institutional archive documenting the development of Internet interconnection in Nigeria.

Founders, former leaders, early members, technical professionals, regulators, partners and other stakeholders will provide accounts of the establishment and evolution of IXPN and Nigeria’s wider Internet ecosystem.

Members of the Internet community are also being encouraged to contribute historical photographs, documents, videos and other records to help preserve the country’s digital history.

The month-long programme will culminate in the IXPN@20 Grand Gala Dinner and Excellence & Legacy Awards on October 30, 2026, in Lagos.

The event will bring together stakeholders from government, regulation, telecommunications, Internet service provision, data centres, academia, the technical community, media and other parts of the digital ecosystem.

The anniversary documentary will be premiered at the event, while awards will recognise individuals and institutions that contributed to IXPN’s establishment, growth and development.

The six award categories include the IXPN Founding Members Legacy Award, Pioneer Content Network Award, Strategic Data Centre Partnership Award, Distinguished Contribution to Internet Exchange Development Award, Government & Regulatory Champion Award and Distinguished Contribution to Internet Journalism Award.

Rudman said the organisation’s next chapter would require deeper collaboration across Nigeria’s Internet ecosystem.

“The first twenty years were about establishing the Exchange, building trust among networks and demonstrating the value of local interconnection,” he said.

“The next twenty years must be about extending that value even further – strengthening resilience, expanding interconnection, developing technical capacity, bringing more networks and institutions into the ecosystem, and ensuring that Nigeria is well positioned for the next phase of the digital economy.”