IXPN Rolls Out New Infrastructure to Speed Up Nigeria’s Internet

The Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) has deployed new internet infrastructure aimed at significantly improving website loading speeds in Nigeria and strengthening the country’s resilience against cyber disruptions.

The development was disclosed by IXPN’s Chief Executive Officer, Muhammed Rudman, during the 2026 Annual Members Engagement Forum held in Lagos.

Local DNS Resolution to Boost Speed

According to Rudman, the initiative involves installing critical systems that enable Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to resolve website addresses locally rather than routing requests through overseas servers.

A key component of the upgrade is a collaboration with the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), which supplied hardware for an authoritative Domain Name System (DNS) server now installed within IXPN’s network.

The DNS server translates human-readable website names into numerical IP addresses that computers use to locate websites online. By hosting this infrastructure domestically, IXPN reduces the distance internet requests must travel—resulting in faster speeds and improved reliability.

What the IXPN CEO Said

Rudman revealed that the new DNS node is already handling close to 1,000 requests per second and supports numerous global domain names, including .org, .info, .io, .asia, .apple, and .alibaba.

“CIRA reports that the node is handling close to 1,000 DNS responses per second, demonstrating strong usage and clear performance benefits for networks at the exchange,” Rudman said.
“This deployment significantly enhances local DNS performance, reduces upstream dependence, and further positions IXPN as a key contributor to regional Internet resilience.”

He explained that whenever a user types a website address into a browser, multiple lookups occur across different servers worldwide before the page loads. By localising critical parts of this process, IXPN shortens response times and strengthens network stability.

Partnership with Verisign

Rudman also disclosed that IXPN has signed a memorandum of understanding with Verisign to serve as a regional internet resolution site.

This agreement enables IXPN to host primary DNS infrastructure for major global domains such as .com and .net locally an important milestone in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure evolution.

According to him, domestic installation of these systems will deliver several benefits:

Faster access to websites and email services

Reduced latency and upstream bandwidth dependency

Enhanced protection against cyberattacks targeting core internet infrastructure

Greater national network stability

The move also reduces the risk of widespread internet outages triggered by disruptions affecting overseas infrastructure.

Flashback: Crossing the 1Tbps Milestone

In April last year, IXPN announced it had surpassed 1 Terabit per second (1Tbps) in peak domestic internet traffic for the first time—a landmark achievement underscoring Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.

By keeping local traffic within Nigeria, the country has reduced international bandwidth costs, improved service speed, and strengthened its digital sovereignty.

“For Nigeria, hitting this milestone means reducing reliance on international bandwidth, decreasing latency for local services, and strengthening our position as Africa’s digital heartbeat,” Rudman stated at the time.

What You Should Know

IXPN is Nigeria’s largest Internet Exchange Point and operates as a non-profit, membership-based organisation. It serves as a central hub for interconnection between ISPs, content networks, enterprises, and digital platforms.

The concept for IXPN was conceived during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunisia in 2005.

In February 2006, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) convened a stakeholders’ forum that led to the establishment of an implementation committee chaired by the Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN).

By March 2007, the NCC inaugurated an interim board—marking the formal take-off of what has become one of the most critical pillars of Nigeria’s internet infrastructure.

With its latest deployment, IXPN is reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading digital hub in Africa driven by resilient, locally anchored internet infrastructure.