I studied Business Information Technology - a mix of Business Administration and Computer Science - at the University of Twente and started work for its University Computing Center as a networks and systems developer in the late 1990s. During that period, I was also a member of the University Council, chairman of the university ISP (an association under Dutch law with well over 2,000 members) and architect for the then fastest consumer Internet access network in the world, CampusNET 2.
I am founder of NDIX, the Dutch German Internet Exchange, where I held the CTO position from late 2000 until early 2009. In 2000 I also founded Virtu, a carrier neutral datacenter company in the east of the Netherlands, which was one of the fastest growing technology companies in the Netherlands for several years. After acquisition of that company by Equinix in February 2008, I became General Manager for the Netherlands for a year, and moved to European business development in 2009, responsible for our network customers and products. Recently I have been appointed as the senior technical architect for Europe within Equinix, a position that allows me to define our European interconnection strategy. As a result, I work closely together with a great number of people within the networking community to see their requirements are met. My employer supports my candidacy for a position on the RIPE NCC board and has agreed to allow me the time required to fulfill this role.
Being one of the most active partcipants in the RIPE NCC general meetings for several years, I think I've given a valuable contribution in increasing accountability, transparency and stewardship of the association. I would like to expand on that role in a more active way, helping define strategy rather than responding to it. Uncertain times are ahead and I'm happy to step up to the responsibility.
Aside from RIPE and RIPE NCC activities, I am also an active contributor to Euro-IX and advisor to various government organisations on Internet-related affairs.
I graduated from Oxford university in Engineering Science and Economics, more years ago than I care to remember and started work at BT's research labs in Martlesham Heath in Suffolk, UK, where I worked for a number of years on several different projects, eventually gravitating towards the new-fangled internet protocol in the late 1980s. I played a part in the bringing of the internet to the UK, and Europe, by arranging for BT to be a substantial player in the early days and by designing and operating the first (unofficial) BT email relay, shifting email between BT's internal systems and the internet. After helping to design and operate BT's first commercial internet service I left to design and oversee the applications services (DNS, Email, NTP and Usenet news) in Level 3's new European network. The advent of ethernet over IP led to my becoming one of the founders of PacketExchange, a company which set out to exploit the technology. From there I went on to become peering manager for FLAG Telecom and then finally to Easynet, where I am today. My current job involves the purchase of all transit for Easynet, and the managing of peering relationships, with an annual budget of several million euros. On the way I found time to help found the London InterNet eXchange (LINX) and serve on its board for 12 years, to act as co-chair for the Database Working group, to launch 6UK (an organisation dedicated to encouraging IPv6 use by businesses in the UK), and, of course, to serve on the RIPE NCC board, where I am currently the Chairman. I have been active in the RIPE organisation, having co-authored a number of policy proposals related to transfer policy, fair run-out, certification, and recovery and re-use of IPv4 resources.
My company fully supports the (considerable) amount of time that I dedicate to serving the internet community.
During my time on the RIPE NCC board we have seen some very difficult economic times, but during that period I have tried to steer an even course between the needs of the RIPE community on the one hand, and the needs of the RIPE NCC members on the other. Much of the time these interests coincide, but I try never to forget that fact that the board is ultimately answerable to the members, and are elected to represent their interests and to maintain the RIPE NCC as a viable organisation, with the ability to efficiently carry out its main function: the allocation of internet number resources. During the time I have been Chairman of the Board I have also tried to move forward with measures intended to improve the representation of the members, the main one of which is the introduction of electronic voting, which we will use for the first time this year. I would like the opportunity to further expand representation of the members in the times to come and so I would ask you to return me to the board for a further three years. Please feel free to speak to me or contact me at any time. I value your opinions.
Studies, certifications:
Since 2005 Technology Director of 3C Kft, Budapest, Hungary, previously known as BankNet Kft. Between 1998 and 2005 Technical Director at BankNet. Joined BankNet, a data communication service provider, in 1992. Started commercial Internet services in Hungary late 1994 taking transit services from Pipex UK. In 2006 3C started to offer ADSL services. At present 3C also operates a microwave based Internet access network in the Budapest area.
Attended most of RIPE meetings since RIPE 21, Rome. Member of the editorial committee of the RIPE document ripe-136 (which replaced ripe-104). Member of Database Security Task Force, summarized the results in RFC2726. Member of the RIPE Data Protection Task Force.
Member of the RIPE NCC Executive Board, acting as Treasurer since September 2001.
Active role in the formation of the Council of Hungarian Internet Providers (CHIP). Roles in CHIP: chairman of Registration Committee (1998), vice-president (1999), at present chairman of Network Security Committee (since 2001), member of the Supervisory Board. Member of the Supervisory Board of the .hu TLD Registry.
Former work experience: systems programming in microcomputer environment (1986-1988), in industrial automation (1988-1990), in 4GL product (1990-1992).
Co-author of the book: "Tree structures and their applications", Technical Publishing House, Bucharest, 1990 (in Romanian).
Member of the third prize team at the Programming World Championship for 4GL held in Stockholm, 1991.
The RIPE NCC is the most important body of Internet self-regulatory structure in our region and is serving the RIPE community in an impartial manner, it is not driven by commercial or political goals. The services provided by the RIPE NCC are very important to the members, some of them are vital, while others help improving efficiency. As a member of the RIPE community I am convinced of the importance of the RIPE NCC as a factor of stability of the Internet. The stability of the RIPE NCC, including the financial one, is essential. At the same time, it is important for the RIPE NCC to be flexible, to be able to adapt itself to the changing economic environment. The following couple of years will bring significant changes due to the depletion of the free pool of IPv4 addresses. We have to try to make this transition to IPv6 as painless as possible for the large base of users of the Internet and to the members of the RIPE NCC, to the ISPs.
I am willing to spend a part of my spare time by serving the community. I would like to contribute to maintaining the stability of the RIPE NCC, to maintaining and improving the quality of the services provided by the RIPE NCC as well as to smoothening the impact of the inevitable changes in technology we are facing.