Center for Internet Traffic Exchange to be put into operation in the nearest months in Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Center for Internet Traffic Exchange is planned to be put into operation in Armenia in the nearest months.

Mediamax reports that, speaking at the founding assembly and the first session of the Armenian Fund for Internet Traffic Exchange “ARMIX” in Yerevan today, the Chairman of the Union of IT Enterprises (UITE) Karen Vardanyan informed on this.

According to him, the center will represent a link, where the networks of large Armenian providers will be connected to each other. “Due to this center, about 20-30% of internet traffic will remain in Armenia and will not cross state borders, as a result of which the expenses of providers and the prices for internet will reduce, and the quality will significantly improve”, Karen Vardanyan stated.

Chairman of “Internet Society” public organization Igor Mkrtumyan informed that internet traffic exchange points are created in many countries. They provide exchange of internet traffic not by means of the external world, but by using internet connections. 

“In today’s conditions, large providers continue entering the Armenian market, each following provider has to establish interconnect with the remaining providers one by one, and this is not natural. After putting the Center for Internet Traffic Exchange into operation, the provider will only need to get connected to it, which, besides other things, will lead to significant acceleration of Armenian intranet”, Igor Mkrtumyan stated.

Member of initiative group on setting up the center, representative of Orange Armenia Vahe Hovhannisyan informed that at the first stage the center may be put into operation due to the equipment, which the providers have, after which they plan to import the necessary devices with the cost of about $130 thousands.

“ARMIX” is founded by the Union of IT Enterprises of Armenia and “Internet Society” public organization, and besides Orange Armenia, the initiative group also includes ADC, Ucom, Icon Communications, Web, Apaga Technologies, GNC Alfa, Shirak Technologies and other companies.

Answering the question on why “ArmenTel”, which has the largest fiber-optical network in Armenia, does not participate in the initiative, Karen Vardanyan stated that UITE has sent letters to “ArmenTel”, but received no answer.