Tashkent to host second Central Asia Peering and Interconnection Forum
The event continues the work and discussions started at CAPIF 1, which took place in Almaty in 2022 and successfully brought together 200 participants from Central Asia, Iran, Russia, and the Caucasus to discuss ensuring resilient, fast and cost-effective Internet connections.
Peering agreements benefit everyone involved – network operators save on high international transit costs and can pass these savings on to their customers, who also benefit from faster speeds. Together this drives economic growth, supports the digitalisation of services, attracts major content providers, and enables local businesses and content creators.
The forum provides an opportunity for the regional Internet community to come together to build relationships, to share best practices, and to increase knowledge around how the Internet can grow through better local peering and interconnection. There is a need in the region for greater Internet accessibility and there are major infrastructure development projects underway that promise to further improve accessibility and affordability in the area.
CAPIF 2 will include presentations on a range of Internet-related topics such as best practices in peering and experiences from newly-established IXPs from Central Asia, Iran and neighbouring regions, opportunities for regional and international connectivity and legislative and regulatory frameworks. There will be a special panel during the event dedicated to IXPs, the challenges related to building a new IXP, and ways to improve.
As the Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, the RIPE Network Coordination Centre has over 30 years experience in bringing together key players from across the technical Internet community. The RIPE NCC will bring together the Internet communities from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran in Tashkent on 19-20 September 2023.
RIPE NCC Chief Community Officer, Hisham Ibrahim said: “CAPIF is a new event that serves as a platform for the Central Asian community to help build a more diverse peering and interconnection environment in the region. Since CAPIF 1 in Almaty, we saw a greater engagement of the local communities in issues concerning Internet development. The recent MoU with the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan and Internet Measurement Day in Kyrgyzstan are evidence of support for these endeavours from the governments and key regional Internet stakeholders. The RIPE NCC hopes the forum will bring about this positive change in how the Internet operates in the region.”
Uzbektelecom’s Deputy chairman of the board for Prospective Development and Innovation, Akmal Arifdjanov said: “Cooperation between JSC "Uzbektelecom" and RIPE NCC is based on mutually beneficial principles. We are glad that this forum focuses on topics such as peering services in the regions as well as legislative and regulatory frameworks, regional and international connectivity, resources, hosting services, network security, stability and resilience.”
Rector of INHA University in Tashkent, Muzaffar Djalalov said: “Events like these play a crucial role in fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and addressing the challenges that arise in this ever-evolving digital landscape. Inha University in Tashkent has always been committed to excellence in education and research, and we recognise the significance of the Internet and ICT in shaping the future of Uzbekistan and the wider region.”
Visit https://www.ripe.net/participate/meetings/regional-meetings/capif/capif-2 for more information and to register.
ENDS