NITA-U, AFRINIC to Host IPv6 Training Courses for Network Engineers
Autonomous statutory body; National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) is partnering with the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) to hold AFRINIC’s renowned IPv6 and Internet Number Resource Management (INRM) Courses in Kampala, Uganda, from April 4th – April 7th, 2017.
AFRINIC offers a comprehensive training program and provides free training throughout Africa in French and English to around 600 African network engineers every year, equipping network engineers and operators with key knowledge about IPv6 deployment and transition techniques.
Uganda has an Internet penetration rate of 19%. AFRINIC has 34 Ugandan members and saw a sharp rise in membership in 2016, indicating that the ICT industry in the country is becoming more robust.
In terms of IPv6 allocations, Ugandan Members hold 17 prefixes to date, meaning half of all members in the country are able to deploy IPv6.
While these numbers are encouraging, AFRINIC hopes to further reinforce the message that IPv6 deployment cannot wait by providing free training on deployment methods in April.
“AFRINIC’s training courses are highly respected, with the majority of participants agreeing that they would recommend the course to others,” comments AFRINIC CEO Alan Barrett.
“In addition to our core function as one of the world’s five Regional Internet Registries (RIR), AFRINIC plays a leading role in education and capacity building, as well as supporting Internet infrastructure development throughout the region. Delivering the AFRINIC Training Courses in Uganda with the support of NITA is further reinforcing our commitment to building a stable, secure and accessible Internet for Africa.”[related-posts]
Speaking at a meeting prior to the training, NITA-U Executive Director, James Saaka said that the Internet is now an integral part of society, a critical resource that affects and facilitates nearly every aspect of modern life.
Broadband Internet is becoming more readily available in Uganda while the Internet costs are decreasing. With the advent of Internet of Things and many devices having Wi-Fi capabilities, billions of devices can now connect to the Internet. IPv6 is therefore perceived as an enabler of Internet of Things.
Mr. James emphasized NITA-U’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that will provide the necessary skillset to Network Engineers and IT Professionals to effectively manage Internet Resources and promote the adoption of IPv6 in Uganda.
“We have partnered with AFRINIC on this training as a start to our commitment on the rolling out of IPv6 in Uganda” he said.
