Google has teamed up with Telefonica's infrastructure subsidiary Telxius and ten other founding members to set up a new association tasked with responding to increasing global demand for high performance, low risk connectivity and the need for more internet geographic diversity for interconnection requirements. The stated mission of the Internet Ecosystem Innovation Committee (IEIC) is to join forces with communities globally to create new internet nexus points through partnership with local municipalities, academia and businesses. Founding members are Google, QTS, Telxius, Hilton, Cigna, Bank of America, Freddie Mac, Telia Carrier, Ciena, Blade Group, CenturyLink and InterGlobix.
Describing the proper functioning and proliferation of the global internet as a central part of everyday life, the cross functional group of business leaders said the current reliance on only a few global peering locations creates risk and limits opportunity. “The challenge is that, as new applications are developed and the demand for bandwidth continues to grow unabated, this concentration of internet traffic exchange points may turn from an easy way to peer to a growing risk based on a lack of diversity,” said IEIC.
As a result, the association will work to provide insight and guidance for municipalities that wish to more actively participate in the growth of the internet globally. "We believe that while the internet performs well today we must look forward to a future in which it plays an even more critical role," said Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist, Google, and Honorary Chairman of IEIC. He added that the remedy lies in increasing network capacity and further increasing the number of peering points.
The IEIC will assist in incubating local chapters to sustain initiatives long-term with a member of the core Committee acting as sponsor to assist with support resources and expertise. In addition, the IEIC said it will forming a sub-committee of local Economic Development Heads and Government officials to help guide them towards evolving their community to one that can better attract technology, grow their economy and create a stronger workforce.
