Telecom Egypt has signed a contract with Amsterdam-based internet exchange AMS-IX. The aim is to establish an internet exchange point in Egypt (EG-IX) inside Telecom Egypt's international Tier III certified data center, in Smart Village.
“EG-IX will enable effective communication for the content and cloud service providers, application developers, and telecommunications companies looking to enhance the digital experience for internet users in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East”, according to a statement by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology .
The IX is to run using IX-as-a-Service (IXaaS), a solution developed by AMS-IX for building and maintaining IXs worldwide. EG-IX is expected to start operating by early 2021, after the establishment of Telecom Egypt's data center is complete. The exchange is expected to strengthen Egypt’s position as an international connectivity hub, further highlighting the potential of the growing digital sector in the region.
Adel Hamed, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are very pleased with our partnership with AMS-IX as the launch of Egypt’s first commercial IXP platform will support Egypt’s digital transformation plans. This step will not only enhance the country’s internet ecosystem, but also support the ongoing regional efforts to establish a digital ecosystem that aggregates internet traffic from Africa and the Middle East."
