Markdown Version | Session Recording
Session Date/Time: 10 Nov 2023 12:00
# gaia
## Summary
This session focused on two key topics: improving terrestrial connectivity in Africa and the phenomenon of remote peering. The first part of the session featured a presentation by Theo Benson on connectivity challenges in Africa, focusing on the need to keep traffic local. The second half featured a presentation on the work of Commit Global and the internet resilience index. Finally, a panel discussion was held on remote peering.
## Key Discussion Points
* **Connectivity in Africa (Theo Benson):**
* Performance and reliability are still poor in Africa, with much traffic transiting through Europe.
* Subsea cables are increasing, but terrestrial connectivity remains a challenge.
* Questions remain about adding IXPs and local/remote peering.
* Incentivizing content providers to locate in different African locations is crucial.
* Africa is not monolithic, and solutions should be region-specific.
* Need for data from the data plane, control plane, and management plane to inform changes.
* **Commit Global (Andre):**
* Addresses technology as an enabler, not as a means to an end
* Provides technological assistance to Ukraine refugees
* Seeks to unlock the promise of tech social good
* **Internet Resilience Index (Matt Ford):**
* The Internet Society Pulse hosts the Internet Resilience Index.
* Index is based on infrastructure, performance, security, and market readiness pillars.
* Methodology and data sources are detailed in a separate document.
* Index allows for comparing countries and identifying specific weaknesses for policymakers.
* Sustainability was suggested as a fifth pillar.
* **Remote Peering Panel Discussion:**
* Definition of remote peering is challenging, especially concerning latency.
* Distinction between IP transit and remote peering (BGP layer vs. commercial difference).
* Reasons for remote peering: cost, access to larger IXPs/content providers, gaming companies.
* Downsides: obfuscation of network paths, potential centralization of IXP infrastructure, latency concerns for certain regions (e.g., Africa), human capacity limitations.
* Possible solutions: content localization, incentivizing hosting within countries, defined community
## Decisions and Action Items
* **Action Item:** Vesna to connect with Matt Ford and the Internet Society to explore adding sustainability as a pillar to the Internet Resilience Index.
## Next Steps
* Continue the discussion and research on remote peering benefits and drawbacks.
* Explore policy incentives for content localization in Africa.
* Address skills/capacity building for network operators in developing regions.
* Follow-up on the potential of an international Ixp fabric.