…Targets improved network resilience, 70% traffic localization
…Local ISPs to save billions in foreign exchange
The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) has announced a strategic roadmap to establish additional Points of Presence (POPs) across the federation, a move aimed at decentralizing internet infrastructure and shielding the country from the impact of frequent undersea cable outages.
Unveiled in the company’s Q4 2025 newsletter, the new Points of Presence expansion plan is set to further domesticate Nigeria’s data traffic, which recently hit a historic milestone of one terabit per second (1Tbps) in aggregate peak domestic traffic.
The Chief Executive Officer of IXPN, Muhammed Rudman, disclosed that the initiative is critical for building a more resilient digital economy. By moving exchange points closer to the point of consumption in various states, the IXPN aims to eliminate “tromboning”—a process where local data travels abroad before returning to Nigeria. This localization has already pushed the country’s domestic traffic exchange to 70 percent, ensuring that the internet remains functional even when international links are severed.
Also Read: IXPN Activates Point of Presence (POP) at Open Access Data Centres (OADC
Beyond network stability, the expansion is delivering a massive fiscal boost to the telecommunications sector. By facilitating local peering, the IXPN has effectively slashed Nigeria’s annual international transit bill by an estimated $40 million (approx. N66 billion). This savings represents foreign exchange that local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) previously paid to international carriers to route domestic traffic, a cost that is now being redirected toward local infrastructure development.
Low Latency
The Q4 report also highlighted a surge in global content provider activity within the country. Google, Netflix, and Microsoft have reportedly doubled their local server capacities at IXPN hubs to meet rising demand for high-definition streaming and cloud services.
This localized caching has reduced latency from 300ms to as low as 5ms in regions with active POPs (Points of Presence), providing a smoother experience for users engaged in fintech transactions, online gaming, and remote work.
Google Global Cache was upgraded from 53Gbps to 153Gbps, while Netflix doubled its Lagos-based server capacity from 45Gbps to 90Gbps. Additionally, the Microsoft Connected Cache increased from 25Gbps to approximately 75Gbps.
IXPN also deployed a new DWDM system between Digital Realty and Rack Centre, raising inter-site capacity to 500Gbps. The organization also established a new POP at Digital Hub Datacentres (DDC) and upgraded the link between Digital Realty and MDXi to 500Gbps, ensuring higher performance and better redundancy for its members.
Road Forward
Looking ahead to 2026, the IXPN stated that it is engaging with more international content networks to encourage local peering in underserved zones. Stakeholders in the ICT sector have lauded the move, noting that the presence of IXPs in states like Gombe, Kano, Delta, and Enugu is bridging the digital divide and enabling regional tech hubs to compete on a level playing field with Lagos-based startups.
IXPN welcomed 17 new networks in 2025, including international giants such as Tencent, CSquared, and ZScalar, bringing its total membership to 130.
