DE-CIX strengthens Central African connectivity

DE-CIX, in collaboration with the NGO Internet pour tous and Kinshasa-based connectivity and web hosting provider UNITED S.A., has announced the expansion of ACIX (Africa Congo Internet Exchange) through the addition of a new presence at OADC Texaf’s FIH1 data centre in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The development makes ACIX the first distributed Internet Exchange (IX) in the DRC and represents a significant milestone in the country’s digital infrastructure development. By extending operations into a neutral and modern colocation facility, the initiative is expected to strengthen local Internet traffic exchange, reduce latency, improve network resilience and create broader interconnection opportunities for operators and digital service providers across the region.

Launched in 2023, ACIX powered by DE-CIX was created as a neutral interconnection platform open to licensed telecom operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), cloud and content providers, enterprises, financial institutions, academic networks and international carriers operating within the DRC and surrounding markets.

The exchange is managed by DE-CIX on behalf of Internet pour tous under the company’s DE-CIX-as-a-Service (DaaS) programme. The NGO plays a key role in supporting and coordinating the ACIX initiative as a neutral digital ecosystem platform aimed at encouraging inclusive interconnection and wider digital growth across the country.

Through the platform, networks in equatorial Africa are able to exchange data more efficiently with lower latency, improving the performance of services and applications ranging from online education to Internet banking.

“ACIX is more than an Internet Exchange; it is foundational digital infrastructure for the future of Central Africa,” stated Hussein Ibrahim, CEO of UNITED SA. “Strong digital ecosystems are built on strong interconnection. ACIX represents an important step toward a more connected and digitally empowered region, where data can remain local, networks become more resilient, and innovation can scale across borders.”

Open Access Data Centres, one of Africa’s fastest-growing data centre operators, is providing the carrier-neutral infrastructure environment for the ACIX deployment at its Kinshasa campus through OADC Texaf. The company operates an expanding network of open-access and carrier-neutral data centres designed to support interconnected digital ecosystems across the continent.

“As a neutral infrastructure provider, our role is to enable open interconnection and support the development of the broader digital ecosystem,” said Mohammed Bouhelal, managing director and director, business development of OADC Texaf DC. “Hosting ACIX within a carrier-neutral environment contributes to creating a trusted platform where all ecosystem participants can interconnect on equal terms.”

DE-CIX said the addition of the new facility will allow more regional and international networks to connect to the exchange while benefiting from improved connectivity and localised traffic exchange.

“DE-CIX is proud to support ‘Internet pour tous’ and UNITED S.A. in the expansion of ACIX and the development of a distributed, data center and carrier neutral Internet Exchange for the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” commented Marco Brandstaetter, global program manager for DE-CIX as a Service at DE-CIX. “The integration of OADC Texaf’s newly-built Kinshasa facility will enable additional networks to connect to the exchange and benefit from improved connectivity. ACIX is creating digital opportunities for the DRC and equatorial Africa by aggregating networks and enabling low latency and resilient local data exchange.”

Kinshasa’s strategic location between two of Africa’s most densely populated regions positions the city as an important connectivity gateway linking countries from the Atlantic coast to the Indian Ocean. ACIX is expected to strengthen this role by serving as an interconnection hub for equatorial Africa, enabling networks to exchange data and host digital content with improved performance and reliability.

DE-CIX’s DaaS programme provides a range of managed services for partners seeking to establish Internet Exchanges and interconnection platforms, including installation, maintenance, provisioning, marketing and sales support, while the operational management remains fully handled by DE-CIX.