INX-ZA modernises exchange with Nokia solutions

Nokia has been chosen by INX-ZA, the Internet Exchange Point division of the Internet Service Provider Association (ISPA), to upgrade and modernise its exchange infrastructure

As part of the initiative, INX-ZA will roll out Nokia’s advanced IP routing portfolio to deliver new 400GE services along with expanded 100GE options to customers nationwide. This development promises faster, more reliable, and future-ready Internet connectivity for businesses and users in South Africa.

Internet exchanges form the backbone of the digital ecosystem, facilitating local traffic exchange and reducing reliance on costly international bandwidth. However, many IXPs across Africa still run on outdated systems that struggle with scalability and efficiency. INX-ZA’s adoption of Nokia’s technology directly addresses these challenges, introducing energy-efficient, scalable, and high-density infrastructure designed to support Africa’s growing digital ambitions.

Nishal Goburdhan, INX-ZA’s general manager, said, “Upgrading to Nokia’s 400GE-ready infrastructure isn’t just about adding capacity - it’s about reimagining how South Africa connects. With this modern, energy-efficient platform, INX-ZA can deliver faster, more reliable, and more sustainable interconnection services while maintaining the uptime and performance our community has come to expect of us. Nokia’s technology gives us the scale and capability to keep our exchanges at the forefront of global standards and power the country’s digital economy for the future."

The project will see Nokia upgrade INX-ZA’s Internet Exchange Points in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. The work begins in Johannesburg, home to JINX, Africa’s oldest Internet Exchange Point, which has maintained 100% uptime since 1996. Together, Nokia and INX-ZA will expand JINX from seven to ten data centres by year end, deploying thirty high-performance platforms in the first phase to ensure its industry-leading availability continues while extending its reach.

Toni Pellegrino, head of South and East Africa Sales, network infrastructure at Nokia, added, “As people are consuming and producing more content and businesses are moving their loads to the cloud, Internet Exchanges are an essential and critical part of digital infrastructure. Working with customers like INX-ZA, which is deeply committed to technical excellence and community enablement, aligns with our belief in delivering resilient, sustainable and scalable trusted infrastructure in South Africa. Our platforms offer the flexibility and openness needed to meet today’s interconnection demands while paving the way for future innovation with SR Linux and automation."

Powered by Nokia’s 7250 Interconnect Routers and SR OS (Service Router Operating System), the deployment will enable INX-ZA to introduce 400GE and expanded 100GE services for peering partners and Internet service providers (ISPs). It will also strengthen INX-ZA’s backbone by providing 400GE connections between multiple points of presence (POPs).

This transformation marks a milestone for South Africa’s digital ecosystem and sets a precedent for other African IXPs to follow, creating more efficient, scalable, and high-performance interconnection infrastructure across the continent.