Raxio Data Centre Signs Pact with Uganda Internet Exchange Point

Raxio Data Centre and the Uganda Internet Exchange Point (UIXP) last week signed a deal that will expand the UIXP’s peering network into the country’s first Tier-III carrier-neutral data center.

The UIXP currently interconnects 28 networks which exchange over 10 gigabits of Internet traffic on a daily basis. This deal will make all of them reachable from the Raxio Data Centre with a single cross-connect on day one. It will also enable network operators to peer at multiple locations within the country.

Kyle Spencer, Executive Director of the UIXP said that: “This deal represents a significant milestone in the development of Uganda’s Internet ecosystem. Internet exchange points have a symbiotic relationship with carrier-neutral data centers. Our deployment in Raxio will catalyze a virtuous cycle of growth that will make the Internet significantly cheaper, faster, and more reliable.”

Raxio Data Centre General Manager James Byaruhanga said: “This partnership with the UIXP will provide a scalable, robust, and highly available alternative location for telco, ISP, carriers, parastatals, content delivery networks, and corporate enterprises to peer with each other and exchange local Internet traffic/content without breaking out to the global internet.

This move by Raxio Data Centre expands the growing portfolio of competitive connectivity options that will be available within its facility. Unlike data centres which are owned by network operators, Raxio’s neutral ownership has a direct incentive to offer its customers the widest possible array of service providers. This ensures that they do not get locked into a specific vendor, and that pricing will be as competitive as possible.

According to reports, the Africa data center market is likely to expand at a compound annual growth rate of around 14 per cent during the period 2018 – 2024. This growth is driven by rapid digitization of the African economy, an increasing wave of ICT infrastructure deployments, a growing youth population, and a rising middle class.

Upon completion Raxio Data Centre will be a centre-piece of infrastructure supporting the growth and digitisation of the Ugandan economy as it will be the first of its kind in Uganda, operating as a carrier-neutral facility, and meeting the international Tier III standard.

It will house around 400 racks and be able to provide 1.5MW of IT power to ensure the equipment housed within it operates optimally, 24/7, in a fully safe, secure and redundant environment. Raxio Data Centre in Uganda is one of five data centres being constructed in Africa by First Brick Holdings with plans underway to break ground in Ghana and Ethiopia.