The Call for Presentations for the week-long conference AFRINIC-29 is opened with a deadline of 14 September 2018. So you have two weeks to submit your proposal. We are seeking speakers from all regions to deliver presentations in either French or English:

The key questions that will be addressed during this conference include:

• What strategies can be used to drive IPv6 Deployment throughout the continent? 

ISPs in Africa has to uptake IPv6 with IPv4 depletion impending, whereas this protocol offers a viable solution in supporting technologies such as IoT, IAAS, AI, VR and blockchains, that are shaping the future of our digital economy.

While IPv6 deployment is relatively simple from an engineering point of view, many businesses in Africa have yet to embark on the path of deploying IPv6. For the sustained growth of our digital space and economy, Governments, Businesses, ICT Regulators, and End Users have to get prepared for v6.

Speakers are invited to share valuable experience on strategies for deploying IPv6 strategies from their perspectives.

• How can Internet infrastructure be improved and expanded to ensure low cost, resilient and secure Internet access and keep the content and traffic local?

Latest global ICT reports reveal that despite commendable progress made in Internet infrastructure development over past years, Africa is still lagging behind the other regions of the world.

This part of the conference will address impactful regional initiatives on issues relating to Internet access, cost, and security and will include presentations on topics such as peering, telecommunication infrastructure and cybersecurity.

• How to ensure affordable, always-on Internet access for all so that all African citizens can reach their potential? 

In spite of the increasing availability of the Internet around the world, only 43% of the global population has Internet access. If gaps persist between those who access the Internet’s opportunities and those who do not, there is a risk of increased social and economic inequality.

This part of the conference will address initiatives that support universal and affordable access to the Internet.

Regional initiatives on issues relating to Internet access, cost, and security are addressed through presentations on topics such as peering, telecommunication infrastructure, connectivity and cyber security.

• What are the policies guiding Internet number resource distribution in Africa and how to ensure that all stakeholders participate in the Policy Development Process (PDP)?

Internet number resources such as IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASN) are important public resources that are vital for the continued growth and stability of the Internet. These resources are neither owned by users, nor are they a commodity that can be bought, sold or traded. It is thus important that they are managed and distributed in a responsible and fair manner with policies acting as vehicles through which these objectives are attained.

Policies on Number Resource management are developed through an open process. Anyone is welcome to participate by joining public mailing lists and attending public policy meetings held by RIRs twice a year. Through these forums AFRINIC engages with everyone irrespective of geographical location, gender and race on issues not only concerning Number resource Management but also Internet access, affordability, governance and much more.

• How to keep our networks safe from cyber attacks, Distributed Denial of Services (DDoS) and shutdowns? 

Our cyberspace is prone to different types of cyber attacks such as phishing, spoofing, DDoS, BGP Hijacks, route leaks, and more.

AFRINIC-29 will have a dedicated slot speaking about Initiatives that help keep our cyberspace safe through knowledge sharing as a crucial means to fight cybercrime and adoption of Internet best practices such as BCP-38 (Applying Source Address Validation), BCP- 84, RPKI and DNSSEC deployment increases resiliency and security and eventually helps in keeping our network safe from attacks.

• How to harness the power of the Internet to help end poverty and ensure prosperity for all?

With access to the Internet come improvements to education, health, society, industry, policy and human rights. Increasing Internet access also means that more investment in critical infrastructure is needed.

Related policies also need to be discussed, updated and put in place and cross-continent agreements need to be made. Crucially, Africa needs to ensure that every device now - and in the future - can be assigned its own unique IP address so it can connect and communicate to the global network and that Africa’s unconnected do not get left behind.

Read our recent announcement on key presentation topics, speakers’ guidelines and how to submit your proposal through our online submission system here.

The AFRINIC-29 meeting, taking place from 26 November to 30 November 2018 will bring together leaders and top executives from Internet Service Providers and organisations concerned with Internet policy and development from around the world. Renowned speakers and experts will be at hand to give perspectives, presentations and participate in panel discussions on the latest developments and case studies in the ICT sector.   

AFRINIC Meetings are held twice a year rotating in countries across the continent, providing a platform for all African governments and global stakeholders to discuss and benchmark issues regarding Internet policy, Internet governance, ICT4D, Internet access and technical capacity building.