[Addis Ababa, Ethiopia –3 August, 2016] – The Internet Society today announced that it has selected 23 fellows from 20 African countries to attend the 7th African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF), to be held from 30 August – 1 September, 2016 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
As a result of the record number of applications received (over 120 applications from 32 countries in Africa), the number of fellowships awarded has increased from 16 in 2015 to 23 this year. The AfPIF fellows will have the opportunity to gain insights on how Africa can maximize opportunities for increased interconnection and peering between local, regional and international Internet Service Providers.
The event brings together governments, policy makers, technical experts and business leaders to discuss African Internet infrastructure challenges, including capacity, regional and national Internet Exchange Point (IXP) development, local content development and connectivity.
“The AfPIF Fellowship Programme is a significant part of our work. It brings to AFPIF participants who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend the event. Their participation will allow them share experiences and exchange ideas that can help advance and influence policies on peering and cross-border Internet interconnection in Africa,” explains Dawit Bekele, Africa Regional Bureau Director for the Internet Society.
“I would like to thank our sponsors who have enabled us to increase the number of fellows attending AfPIF this year. I would also like to thank the Fellowship Committee members for their work in selecting these highly-qualified individuals to benefit from the program,” added Bekele.
The 2016 AfPIF Fellows are:
- Livingstone Kalu (Nigeria), eStream Networks
- Ghislain Nkeramugaba (Rwanda), RICTA/RINEX
- Ivy Hoetu (Ghana), National Communications Authority
- Philippe Junior SIBIRO (Central African Republic), SPJ Labs
- Jean-Baptiste Millogo (Burkina Faso), AIRTEL Burkina Faso
- Ousmane Moussa Tessa (Niger), Niger-REN
- Randrianarivony Nirinarisantatra (Madagascar), iRENALA
- Janvier Ngnoulaye (Cameroon), University of Yaounde/ISOC Cameroon
- Nico Tshintu Bakajika (Democratic Republic of Congo),ISPA-DRC/KINIX
- Asegid Legesse Teshome (Ethiopia), Ethio Telecom
- Hervé Typamm (Togo), WARCIP
- Brahim ousmane mustapha (Chad), SYDONIA Chad
- Kpetermeni Siakor (Liberia), Liberia Internet Exchange Point Association
- Islam Abou El Ata (Morocco), CAS-IX
- Gabriel Kapumpe (Zambia), Zambia Telecommunications Company LTD
- Eusebio Miku Cornelius (Tanzania), Habari Node Ltd. and Arusha Internet eXchange Point
- Christian Muhirwa (Rwanda), Broadband Systems Corporation
- Mucowimana Nepomucene (Burundi), ARCT
- Ali Bakri Mustafa Elfaki (Sudan), National Information Center
- Francisco Mabila (Mozambique), UEM/MOZIX
- Kiemde Wênden tôe fâa Franck (Burkina Faso), Burkina Faso Internet EXchange Point (BFIX)
- Assangbe Woto Gbetondji Vivien (Benin), Benin Telecoms Infrustructures SA
- Anibe Onuche (Nigeria), Internet Exchange Points of Nigeria (IXPN)
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Find out more information about AfPIF including the 2016 Fellowship Programme
Contact:
Betel Hailu