The Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP) is today starting a series of meetings to address Internet traffic routing inefficiencies in the eastern Caribbean. The meetings, which will continue over four days in St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines, will promote a coordinated approach to the establishment of local Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in those territories.

Also among the expected outcomes are the establishment of an IXP implementation framework, the formation of a Local IXP Working Group, and agreement on an IXP Governance model. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), regulatory bodies, Government representatives, academic institutions, content creators, and other organisations that use the Internet to deliver or receive local content or data services have been invited to attend.

CARCIP and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) will be working in collaboration with Packet Clearing House (PCH), the world’s leading implementer of IXPs, to organise the meetings. “Establishing a local IXP can bring many benefits to Caribbean citizens, including faster domestic Internet traffic exchange and a more resilient local network,” said PCH Internet Specialist Bevil Wooding.

“IXPs spur the creation of local Internet content and applications. That’s why, across the world, IXPs are considered a prerequisite for the development of a robust domestic Internet economy.” Wooding and Stephen Lee are the two CARCIP representatives who will facilitate the sessions from Monday to Thursday. “A local IXP is a critical platform for providing domestic-­focused, bandwidth-­intense applications. We expect that IXP proliferation will expand the market for Internet-­based products and services,” said Lee.