MainOne Affirms Commitment To Advancing Internet Growth In Africa

MainOne has reinforced its commitment to the growth of the internet in Africa. This is even as the company is set to launch a new data center in Cote d’Ivoire before the end of this year.

The company disclosed this at the 12th edition of the African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) in Accra, Ghana, co-hosted by MainOne, the Internet Society (ISOC) and the African IXP Association (AFIX).

Ghana’s country manager, MainOne,
Emmanuel Kwarteng, emphasised the significance of AfPIF 2023 in fostering collaborations across Africa’s digital ecosystem.

“In an era of rapid technological advancement, the Internet and content have emerged as two major pillars of modern society, transcending geographical boundaries and revolutionizing the way we do business, communicate, learn, and interact with the world around us.

“We cannot overemphasize the critical role that peering plays in enhancing the reach, reliability, and efficiency of this new digital lifestyle. By collaborating with the Internet Society on the shared vision of an inclusive and interconnected internet society for the continent, we believe that the transformative partnerships formed here will drive value for a more connected Africa,” Kwarteng posited.

Ghana’s minister of Communications and Digitization, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, harped on the need for a robust peering and interconnection ecosystem for the efficient operation of the country’s digital initiatives.

“This will permit local traffic and promote ICT, which is crucial for any nation wishing to participate fully in the global Internet economy. It will enhance the end-user experience, bring down access costs, and encourage the growth of regional internet ecosystems,” noted the Minister.

Owusu-Ekuful also highlighted the importance of supporting the aggregation of internet traffic at interconnection hubs across Africa, which would attract international operators to establish their points of presence (POPs) in the West African region.