Kenyans will soon have faster access and better protection from cyberattacks after ICANN launched managed root server cluster in Nairobi.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) launch in Nairobi will be the fifth globally as North America hosts two, with another in Europe and Asia.
An IMRS cluster helps to improve DNS infrastructure, stimulating web access and strengthening internet stability. The cluster will cut the impact of potential cyberattacks in Africa and can provide higher bandwidth and data processing capacity.
Goran Marby, president and CEO of ICANN, said improving user access to the internet in Africa and their safety while using it, is part of ICANN’s mission to make the web more secure, stable and resilient across the world.
Eliud Owalo, the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, said the installation of the IMRS cluster aligns with Kenya’s mission to transform the country and the entire continent digitally through regulation, partnership and innovation.
Installing this IMRS cluster in Africa ensures that internet queries can be answered within the region, which limits its dependence on networks and servers in other parts of the world. The IMRS cluster boosts national and regional resiliency by helping root server traffic stay local.
ICANN provides capacity development for many technical organizations, working with the African Network Operators Group and partners such as the Africa Top Level Domains Organisation and African Network Information Centre.
