About us

The African IXP Association (AFIX) is a group of Internet exchange point operators from across Africa, brought together by a shared need to coordinate and exchange knowledge. We are a registered non-profit (CBC) in Rwanda. Our articles of association and board of directors can be found here.

Our purpose is to provide an enabling environment for Internet exchange point operators in the African region so that they can share knowledge and support each other. We aim to help IXPs maximize the value they represent to their members, to improve connectivity within the continent, and to increase the value of the Internet for all. Our specific objectives are to:

  • Produce and share tutorials, best practices, policy templates, and other resources
  • Encourage governments, regulators, and civil society to support new and existing IXPs
  • Share best practices, experiences, and case studies
  • Collectively represent African IXPs in global meetings and projects
  • Compile and distribute information regarding Internet traffic and the impact of IXPs
  • Catalyze new ideas, projects, and research related to Internet traffic exchange
  • Help IXPs address operational issues, deploy new services, improve security, and scale
  • Promote the establishment of new IXPs in countries without one and cities that need one

Board members

The African IXP Association board of directors is elected by Internet exchange points (IXPs) from the African region. Elections are held each year prior to the annual members meeting which is held in conjunction with the African Peering & Interconnection Forum (AfPIF).

Kyle Spencer - Chair (2023 to 2026)

Kyle Spencer is Chair & Executive Director of the Uganda Internet Exchange Point and CEO of Stormzero Consulting. He has over 20 years of experience building content & interconnection ecosystems in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. He has contributed to the development of Internet exchange points (IXPs), carrier-neutral data centres, policy frameworks, grant programmes, and industry best practices. He has founded industry associations, established community organizations, and organised notable events including Africa’s first international video gaming tournament.
Edrich de Lange - Vice Chair (2024 to 2027)

Edrich de Lange has been working in the ISP sector since 2008.He co-owns and operates an ISP in Durban, South Africa,and still finds time to consult to numerous operators in the region. Edrich is passionate about community engagement, and spends a significant amount of his personal time working on community related activities, from music to ICT. He is a founding member of ZANOG, South Africa’s most active network operator’s group, and has been using this, as a vehicle to promote Internet self-development and innovation
Darwin Da Costa (2023 to 2025)

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Jane Coffin (2023 to 2026)

Jane Coffin is a seasoned executive and Internet community expert who has worked at the intersection of international technology, policy/regulation, and development for 30+ years. She currently is a Senior Advisor (short-term consultant) to the ITU/UNICEF Giga Initiative. Jane works on ways to mobilize community to deploy local networks, deploy and understand innovative financial models, and promote changes to rules and regulations to introduce more networks and to finance them.
Nico Tshintu Bakajika (2024 to 2027)

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Frank Habicht (2023 to 2025)

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Muhammed Rudman (2023 to 2026)

Muhammed Rudman is the founding CEO of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), the largest IXP in West Africa. He is a seasoned IT professional with over 20 years of experience in network design, implementation, optimization, and management. Rudman is a member of various professional organizations within Nigeria and internationally and has significantly contributed to developing Nigeria's ICT sector. Additionally, he serves as the Chairman of the Nigeria IPv6 Council and the immediate past Executive President of the Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NIRA), the administrator of the .ng country code top-level domain (ccTLD).
Jean-Francis Ahanda (2023 to 2025)

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Portia Rabonda (2024 to 2027)

Portia Rabonda is the Africa Lead at FLEXOPTIX, through which she engages with IXPs and network operators globally. Introduced to the community in 2014 through working with SAFNOG, Portia has a strong love for the community and aims to expand the reach of reliable and affordable internet services, enabling socio-economic growth and development within Africa and empowering communities through connectivity.