The MENOG meeting concludes today after the discussion of various proposals designed to shape the future of networking in the Middle East. Presentations were given by various key speakers and members of the networking community to try to redesign the future of the Internet as well as the hardware and software in the Middle East.
Peering was first on the agenda as currently in the Middle East the only IXP available in the Arab league is in Egypt, leading to an increased cost for the Middle-Eastern countries when sending traffic whilst peering. In Europe and the USA there is an average of between 80 – 95 IXPs, so tackling the installation of more IXPs in the Middle East is on top of the agenda. Peering involves network-to-network traffic, which can be handled for free if peering mechanisms are included, rather than using IXPs from abroad installing a efficient peering network will lead to a more cost effective Internet, and with more exchange points the progress made will help the maturation of the Middle-East as well as many other things.
Also discussed was the updating of the Internet from Internet Protocol version 4 to Internet Protocol version 6. The difference between these is the number of addresses available. Whilst Ipv4 can only handle a total of 2 to the power of 32 addresses, Ipv6 can handle 2 to the power of 128 addresses. Ipv6 will be the new instrument to deal with networked home appliances such as dishwashers, toasters and other Ipv6 capable technology such as 3G phones. A taskforce has been assigned to ensure that the Middle East region’s infrastructure is ahead, advanced and absolute, when dealing with the installation of Ipv6.
The final proposal was from the host, 2Connect. 2Connect have made it official that they will be providing free residential broadband WiFi internet access, first to the areas of A’ali, Sar and Riffa, but then eventually to the whole of Bahrain. Full details will be released later but from the presentation given yesterday the understanding is that after nodes have been initialised and customers have registered with 2Connect, free Internet access will be available to all subscribers in an effort for 2Connect to maximise coverage.
Bahrain Tribune :: Reyadh Hussein :: 5 April, ‘07