The LINX Nairobi network is set to expand into PAIX Data Centers, further bolstering its role as a premier Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in East and Central Africa. Initially launched in November 2023, the network has enjoyed steady growth, driven by a strong local community consisting of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), global content networks, and strategic partners.
The decision to extend the LINX Nairobi network into PAIX Data Centers comes after significant interest from key networks located at PAIX’s Nairobi NBO-1 facility at Britam Tower in Upper Hill, a prominent business district. This extension will allow networks at PAIX to easily connect with those already present at LINX Nairobi, enhancing opportunities for global content networks like Meta and local ISPs such as ICON Fiber, Mtaani Telecom, Mymanga Networks, and PepeaNet.
LINX Nairobi boasts a fully interconnected and dual fiber infrastructure between data center sites, ensuring resilience and redundancy. The integration with PAIX will transform the network into a four-site interconnection hub. Installation efforts are already underway, targeting a live connection in the coming weeks.
Commenting on the extension, Emmanuel Makina, Sales Manager of PAIX Data Centers, stated, “With our cloud- and carrier-neutral data center located in the center of the business district, we host communities of interest for the financial and content industries… They all benefit from being able to connect to multiple networks, easily scale their bandwidth, reduce their connectivity costs, and have the lowest latency to their partners.”
Jennifer Holmes, CCO for LINX, expressed her enthusiasm about the unanticipated yet welcomed expansion. “We didn’t expect to be expanding the LINX Nairobi network this soon, but we like to pride ourselves in our commitment to the local community. They said, we listened. By expanding the peering opportunities to the customers at PAIX we are adding value to the entire LINX Nairobi community and prospective new local and global networks who we are in talks with,” she remarked.
Wouter van Hulten, CEO & Founder of PAIX Data Centers, emphasized their dedication to Kenya’s digital infrastructure development. “PAIX Data Centers is fully committed to the development of Kenya’s digital infrastructure, with support for all the latest AI hardware and software… We are building and operating the infrastructure to enable Africa’s digital economy, with local data centers, local teams, and world class operations, all essential ingredients for the developments that lie ahead,” he said, warmly welcoming LINX’s integration into the PAIX community.
