Strengthening the T&T Internet

Trinidad and Tobago is one step closer to establishing its own Internet Exchange Point (IXP).

The board of the Trinidad and Tobago Internet Exchange (TTIX), the non-profit company that will set up the local IXP, held its inaugural meeting last month to elect its officers.
                   
TTIX includes the country’s seven major Internet service providers (ISPs). Once established, the Internet exchange point (IXP) will facilitate the exchange of local Internet traffic between the ISPs.

The IXP will help to keep users' local communications more private, as it reduces the reliance on international network facilities. Consumers can also expect to see an improvement in the speed and robustness of Internet access for locally based content and services.

These are some of the reasons why the IXP is seen as a critical component of broadband infrastructure that is necessary for the development of a knowledge-based society and the proliferation of locally-hosted Internet applications.

There are six IXPs in the Caribbean, in Curacao (AMS-IX), St Maarten (OCIX), Grenada (GREX), British Virgin Islands (BVIX), Haiti and Dominica (DANIX). TTIX is working towards establishing the IXP in Trinidad and Tobago in the first half of 2014.
         
The TTIX Board is:

Kurleigh Prescod, Columbus Communications Trinidad Limited – Chairman

Ajmal Nazir, Greendot Limited – Vice Chairman

Narissa Mustapha, Lisa Communications – Treasurer

Gregory Loe, Open Telecom Limited – Director

Ed Duke, TSTT – Director

Brian Jahra, Three Sixty Communications Limited – Director

The Secretary position is held by Digicel (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited