A new research project has been launched in the Caribbean to track the development of Internet Exchange Points across the region.

Called IXP Snapshot, the project was launched at the fourth Caribbean Peering and Interconnection Forum, held in Belize City, Belize from June 12 to 14. Regional Internet industry blog SightLine is spearheading the project.

An Internet Exchange Point, or IXP, is an important piece of Internet infrastructure. IXPs are the points of interconnection between the local networks that make up the global Internet. There are hundreds of IXPs located all over the world, including more than a dozen established in the Caribbean.

"The new IXP Snapshot research study aims to quantify the historical impact and actual performance of Internet exchange points in the Caribbean," said Gerard Best, Chief Content Officer at SightLine and lead researcher on the IXP Snapshot project.

"IXPs can play a significant role in reducing downtime and restoring connectivity after natural disasters such as hurricanes. IXPs can also contribute to reduced operational cost for Internet service providers, which can result in better quality of service for Internet subscribers. We're aiming to measure the contribution being made by IXPs in this region."