Barbados Internet Exchange established

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday May 21, 2015 – Three local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Barbados Internet Exchange (BARIX).

Representatives of Cable and Wireless (Barbados) Limited, Digicel (Barbados) Limited and Columbus Barbados were all signatories to the document.

Minister responsible for Telecommunications, Senator Darcy Boyce congratulated the companies on reaching consensus on the issue, noting that establishing the Barbados Internet Exchange Point (IXP) would bring great benefits to Barbados, including reduced costs, improved network capacity and cyber security.

The result of the Barbados IXP is that locally-generated internet traffic destined for local recipients will no longer have to go via the Internet Exchange Point in Miami, but will be done locally.

Boyce said that Barbados would also be able to improve the speed of communication with its Caribbean neighbours as more of them establish their own IXPs. Grenada, Haiti, Cuba, Dominica and St. Lucia are among countries which already have IXPs.

Chief Financial Officer at Cable and Wireless Patrick Hinkson described the initiative as an important step for Barbados, and promised that customers would experience vastly improved connectivity.

Niall Sheehy, Managing Director of Columbus Barbados, added that the establishment of BARIX was a major step towards positioning Barbados competitively, while Mark Linehan of Digicel said he looked forward to the advantages that BARIX would bring to Barbados.

Chief Telecommunications Officer in the Telecommunications Unit, Reginald Bourne, said the new exchange will be formally launched at the end of the month.