1The Africa Internet Summit 2015 (AIS'15) was held from 24 May to 5 June 2015 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and the Regency Tunis Hotel in Tunis, Tunisia. Over 300 people from 35 countries attended the training sessions and around 350 delegates attended the AIS’15 plenary sessions. The event was hosted by the ATI (Tunisian Internet Agency) and organised by AFRINIC and the AF*  - the African organisations working collaboratively for a better Internet in Africa.

The AIS, an annual, regional multi-stakeholder ICT conference, is the pinnacle educational and business ICT event in Africa where key players in the Internet industry interact with the global Internet community. Launched in The Gambia in 2012, the Summit aims to bring the ICT business and technical community in Africa under one roof to discuss ICT issues and challenges.

Taking place over two weeks, the AIS’15 saw nearly 20 workshops, tutorials and training sessions conducted during the first days of the Summit. The Women in IT Forum (WITF) and the AfricaCERT Cybersecurity Day also took place during the first week. The ICANN Day, the AfNOG-16 Meeting, the AFRINIC-22 Meeting and its related plenary sessions, as well as the AFRINIC Annual General Members Meeting were held from 1- 5 June 2015.

The AIS'15 was generously sponsored by Microsoft (Conference), ICANN (Diamond), Liquid Telecommunications (Gala Dinner), Google, Internet Society, NetworkTheWorld, Telecom Italia Sparkle, Afilias (Gold), FRANCE IX Services, ZA Central Registry (ZACR), Domain Name Services (Pty) Ltd (Silver), Network Startup Resource Center - NSRC, Seacom, DotAfrica (Bronze), La Poste Tunisienne (Coffee Break), and the Tunisian Internet Agency (Connectivity).

Click here to download the PDF version of this report

 


June 1 2015

AIS'15 Training

The AIS'15 training sessions were held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel from 24 May - 1 June 2015. The AIS'15 Trainings covered Internet related technical topics including Cybersecurity, UNIX, IPv6, Internet measurements, RPKI, DNSSEC, AfNOG topics, Internet number resource management, and online localised content development.

The AfREN Meeting, which is the annual forum on African research and education networking, also took place during the first week.

Over 300 participants from 35 countries took part in nine workshop tracks (six in English and three in French) and eight tutorial presentations conducted by 22 instructors from all over the world.

 

 

ICANN Day

The ICANN day was held on 1 June 2015. Pierre Dandjinou, ICANN’s VP Stakeholder Engagement for the Africa Region, introduced the ICANN Day and explained how ICANN coordinates critical Internet resources - domain names, Internet number resources and Internet protocols. This coordination helps to make the Internet stable, open and resilient. Pierre explained that ICANN also exists within a multi-stakeholder environment made up of a varied community of supporting organisations and Advisory Committees. Pierre ended his presentation by speaking about ICANN’s Africa strategy, which was implemented in 2013. The strategy seeks to enhance Africa’s participation in ICANN, to ensure ICANN’s presence in Africa and to support development of the Africa DNS industry. | Presentation

Danielle Andella, Registration Service Manager at ICANN, presented remotely on how entities that are interested in selling generic top-level domain (gTLD) name registrations can become accredited by ICANN as registrars and explained the accreditation process.

Aziz Hilalil (AFRALO) gave an introduction on AFRALO, ICANN’s At Large community organisation for the African region and gave statistics on their involvement in capacity building in Africa. | Presentation

Tijani Ben Jemaa (AFRALO) then talked about the endless possibilities the Internet offers to everyone and the increase in the number of gTLDs following the first round of the new gTLD program. The presentation enumerated on opportunities for Internet users from personal, 

professional and educational levels. The economic impact from the underserved regions was also highlighted in Tijani's presentation. | Presentation

Bob Obchleng (ICANN) presented on the New generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program which was developed to increase competition and choice in the domain name space. Hundreds of new strings (over 630 currently) have been delegated and continue to be added to the domain name system since 2013. Bob highlighted the different review areas necessary before a second round could be considered. | Presentation

Fadh Batayneh, ICANN’s Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator for the Middle East, talked about developing a partnership between the domain name industry ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East. Fadh highlighted the importance of such partnership especially in terms of capacity building. | Presentation

 

 

Panel Sessions

The afternoon panel session discussed the participation of Africa in the IANA functions’ stewardship transition process. Mary Uduma from the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) chaired the session. Pierre Dandjinou, ICANN’s VP Stakeholder Engagement for the Africa Region, kickstarted the session and gave an overview of the transition proposal. He explained that ICANN has been asked to facilitate the development of a single proposal from the names, numbers and protocol communities. Each of the three communities prepared a separate proposal, which will be formulated into one single proposal and submitted to the ICANN Board for review. | Presentation

Fiona Asonga also gave an update on the activities of the ICANN Accountability Cross Community Working Group (CCWG). | Presentation

Mike Silber (ICANN Board) concluded the session and gave the ICANN Board's perspective on the IANA Stewardship Transition process. Mike added that useful public comments have been received that will help to improve ICANN's operations in the future. Mike reassured the community that the process is transparent and encouraged everyone to read the documents. However he did express some concern about the degree of complexity on some of the comments received.

Watch the ICANN Day here

 

The official opening ceremony included speeches from HEM Fehni and HEM Kone,the ICT Ministers of Tunisia and Cote D'Ivoire, representatives of the local host and AF*.

The first speaker was Moez Chakouk, representing the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI), gave a passionate speech who spoke on the importance of effectively managing Internet number resources for the African region.

The representatives of the AF* - Markus Adomey (AfricaCERT), Paulos Nyrenda (AfTLD), Aziz Hilalil (AFRALO), Barry Boubakar (AfREN), Alan Barrett (AFRINIC)  - then addressed the key activities and projects within each organisation. Dr Nii Quaynor (AfNOG) spoke on the importance of AIS to unite the AF* family.

HEM Kone, ICT Minister of Cote D'Ivoire carried on with a speech that addressed the issues of inclusivity, content and security of the Internet.

The opening session ended with the speech made by HEM Fehni, Tunisia’s ICT Minister, who spoke about the Internet being a powerful tool in politics and society in Tunisia and beyond. HEM Fehri highlighted the important role that the Internet is playing but warned that this might lead to a divided world between the connected and the unconnected if we do not act to close the gap. The Minister iterated his trust in the new generation for creating new opportunities that would lead to better world and enumerated his vision of the future ICT sector in Tunisia.

Alan Barrett thanked the hosts and the sponsors for their support and welcomed the attendees to Tunisia. He wished everyone a successful and productive meeting and declared the AIS’15 open.

You can watch the video for the above sessions here.

After the official ceremony everybody gathered for some snacks and drinks at the AIS'15 Opening Cocktail. Kathy Brown (CEO, Internet Society), Dr Nii Quaynor and Alan Barrett made a welcome speech during the Opening Cocktail.

 

Agenda

DateSession

Day 1

1 June 2015

Internet Ecosystem and ICANN multistakeholder model Slide

 

ICANN Day

 

How to Become an ICANN Accredited Registrar
  Update on AFRALO's Ativities Slide
  New Internet and Economic Development Slide
  Presentation on International Domains Names Slide
  DNS Entrepreneurship Center (DNS-EC) Slide
  Presentation on New GTLDs Slide
  AfGWG
  Africans' Participation in CCWG Slide
  Africans' Participation in CWG Slide
  Africans' Participation in ICG 
  Brief Update on the Processes
  Questions and Answers
  Closing Remarks
  AIS'15 Opening Ceremony
  Introdcution to RIPE Atlas and RIPEstat
  AfREN Meeting 
  IPv6 For Engineers
  Online Localised Content Development (OLCD) Workshop
  Advanced features of RIPE Atlas and RIPEstat

Day 2

2 June 2015

AfNOG Welcome Message Slide 
NOG Reports Slide
Goodwill Message from A Registry
Keynote address by Kathy Brown, CEO ISOC
TZ KSK Algorithm Rollover Slide
Online Training for Africans NOGs Slide
BCOP Slide
  Impact of Cloud Computing, for decision makers Slide
  Peering and Content 
  IETF Update Slide
  AFRINIC IRR Slide
  Trans-boundary issues in Cybersecurity Slide
  Open Microphone

Day 3

3 June 2015

Welcome and Introduction of Sessions Slide 

Review of Agenda

Introduction to the Policy Development Process Slide

Report of Recently Ratified/Implemented Policies

Summary of policies under discussion in other regions Slide

Out-Of-Region Use of AFRINIC Internet Number Resources Slide

AFRINIC Services Guidleines (AFPUB-2014-Gen-005-DRAFT-01) Slide

Resource Reservation for Internet Exchange Points Slide

Status of the Policy Manual Slide

PDWG Election 

Open Microphone

Closing

Day 4

4 June 2015

  Presentation on BCG Report and E-Friction Slide
The Internet and Economic Development- The Case for ICT Infrastructure Slide
 CRISP Team Update   Slide
 AGMM Welcome and Agenda Review Slide
Approval of last AGMM minutes dated 6 June 2014 held in Djbouti Slide
Board Activity Update  Slide
Activities Update 
 2014 Audited Report Slide
Appointment of Auditor for 2015 Slide
Presentation of 2015 budget Slide
Budget Execution Slide
Q&A
Special Resolutions (SR1, SR2, SR3). Proposal by Members on Bylaws Revision 
Presntation/Debate
Vote
Counting/Announcement
Board Elections Slide
Presentation of Candidates (5 Minutes per candidate including Q&A)
Vote
Special Resolutions (SR4, SR5, SR6) Proposal by Members on Bylaws Revision Slide
Presentation/Debate
Vote 
Counting/Announcement 
 Special Resolution (SR7, SR8) Proposal by Members on Bylaws revision Slide
Presentation/Debate
Vote
Counting/Announcement
Board Election Result 
Closing Remarks and end of AGMM

Day 5

5 June 2014

Lean Design for African Start-Ups  Slide
ICT and Tourism, the New Economy of Tourism Sector
Tracking Capital Budgets in Nigeria Slide
Questions and Answers
 P2P Name Systems:Potential Disruptions Slide
 How Mobile Internet helps Kenya to leverage Passenger Feedback to improve Road Safety Slide 
 Usefulness of "Design Thinking" for Young entrepreneurs in ICT Slide
Key Success Factors in Francophone Internet Ecosystem
 AFRINIC Board ELections 
Special Resolutions (SR4 to SR8) Slide
AFRINIC Corporate Update Slide
 APNIC Slide
ARIN Slide
Lacnic Updates Slide
RIPE NCC Updates Slide
NRO Updates Slide
ASo Updates Slide
Resource Policy Manual Status Report - Ernest Byaruhanga
Stakeholders involvement and participation in the Internet governance ecosystem 
IANA Updates Slide
How to foster broadband Internet development in Africa? Slide
Ecosystème de TIC au Tchad Slide
The Open Internet (Net Neutrality)
AFRINIC Member Service Update Slide
AFRINIC Training Update 
 End-User Measurement through paid advertisement
AFRINIC Communication Update
AFRINIC R&D Update Slide
AFRINIC IT and Engineering Update Slide
RIPE Atlas & RIPEstat
FIRE Updates
Open Microphone 
Aminata Garba - Cloud  Computing : Overview and Challenges
   
   

Download the transcripts (ZIP folders) for the whole day of