2 weeks Ago By Roger A. Agana
News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, Roger A. Agana, https://newsghana.com.
gh/ecowas-moves-closer-to-regional-internet-exchange-point-with-accra-workshop/West African experts and partners convened in Accra from April 14 to 16, 2025, to finalize plans for a Regional Internet Exchange Point (RIXP) aimed at transforming digital connectivity across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).The validation workshop, organized by the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU) and the Directorate for Digital Economy and Postal Services, reviewed a feasibility study outlining the technical and strategic roadmap for the initiative.The proposed RIXP seeks to localize internet traffic by reducing reliance on international routing, which currently inflates costs and slows speeds.
By creating a centralized hub for data exchange, ECOWAS aims to bolster regional digital projects, including affordable mobile roaming, cross-border customs networks, and e-commerce platforms. The plan also prioritizes strengthening national Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in member states, particularly in countries lacking such infrastructure, to build a resilient, interconnected network.Ghana’s Minister of Communication, Digital Technologies, and Innovations, Samuel George, emphasized the project’s urgency during the opening session, noting its alignment with broader goals of economic integration.
His representative, Innovations Director Emmanuel Ofori, underscored the RIXP’s potential to “catalyze a unified digital market” in West Africa. Folake Olagunju, acting Director of Digital Economy and Post, delivered remarks on behalf of ECOWAS Commissioner Douka Sediko, stressing the need for collaborative implementation to address disparities in regional internet access.The Accra workshop marks a critical step toward operationalizing the RIXP, which analysts say could reduce latency by up to 80% for intra-regional data transfers.
Such improvements are seen as vital for supporting startups, financial services, and public sector digitization. However, challenges remain, including funding gaps, uneven national infrastructure readiness, and harmonizing regulatory frameworks across 15 member states.The feasibility study’s final approval will pave the way for securing partnerships and investments, with ECOWAS targeting a phased rollout by 2027.
The initiative reflects growing regional recognition of digital infrastructure as a cornerstone for competitiveness, particularly as global tech firms expand their footprint in Africa. If successful, the RIXP could serve as a model for other blocs seeking to balance technological sovereignty with integration into the global digital economy. News Ghana, Latest Updates and Breaking News of Ghana, Roger A.
Agana, https://newsghana.com.gh/ecowas-moves-closer-to-regional-internet-exchange-point-with-accra-workshop/.
