ACIX Expands to Second Data Center in Kinshasa

The Africa Congo Internet Exchange (ACIX) has expanded its operations into a new data center facility in Kinshasa, marking a significant step for internet traffic management in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This deployment allows domestic traffic to flow through multiple exchange locations, enhancing network resilience and reducing reliance on international routing.

New Infrastructure at OADC Texaf FIH1 Campus

The expansion brings ACIX infrastructure to the OADC Texaf FIH1 campus, a carrier-neutral facility in Kinshasa. The project is a collaboration between DE-CIX, Kinshasa-based connectivity provider UNITED S.A., and the non-profit Internet pour tous, which coordinates the broader exchange initiative in the DRC.

Key Benefits of Multi-Site Operations

• Improved resilience: If one site experiences disruption, networks connected to another facility can continue exchanging traffic locally.
• Reduced latency: Locally exchanged traffic avoids unnecessary international routing, improving response times for cloud services, digital payments, and video delivery.
• Lower transit costs: Operators reduce dependency on expensive European transit routes.

Why ACIX Matters for Central Africa's Digital Growth

Established in 2023, ACIX provides a neutral meeting point for telecom companies, internet providers, mobile operators, banks, cloud firms, academic networks, and international carriers. DE-CIX manages the platform through its outsourced exchange operations program, handling technical deployment and ongoing administration.

ACIX as Foundational Digital Infrastructure

Hussein Ibrahim, CEO of UNITED S.A., emphasized the long-term importance of interconnection: “ACIX is more than an Internet Exchange; it is foundational digital infrastructure for the future of Central Africa.”

The expansion reflects a broader trend across African telecom markets, where data center operators and exchange providers are pulling traffic closer to domestic users instead of relying heavily on European transit routes.

Kinshasa's Strategic Geographic Position

Kinshasa sits between heavily populated sections of eastern and western Africa, creating an opportunity for networks operating across equatorial Africa to exchange traffic through a more localized corridor. Open Access Data Centres (OADC), which operates the hosting facility, noted that carrier-neutral environments are critical for equal access to interconnection infrastructure.

Wider Participation Expected

DE-CIX expects the additional deployment to widen participation at the exchange by making interconnection available from another major facility inside the Congolese capital. This move supports the growing demand for stable, low-latency connections across the region.