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About the iWeek 2008 hosts
The Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA)
The Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) is a non-profit South African Internet industry organisation. It was formed on 6 June 1996 and currently represents 149 Internet service providers with a diverse range of services and target markets. Members include non-profit providers and educational networks, as well as commercial service providers.
ISPA's Internet exchange
The ISPA is an active industry body, facilitating communication between Internet service providers in South Africa. Collaboration levels have historically been very high, leading to the formation of the Johannesburg Internet exchange (JINX) in 1996. This exchange point routes Internet traffic between different Internet access providers and serves as a means to keep South African traffic within the country's borders. This reduces the costs of international Internet links and provides consumers with improve access to South African networks.
Regulatory and policy activities
Since its launch, ISPA has played an important role in the development of South Africa's telecommunications and Internet policy. ISPA has participated in policy discussions and made numerous presentations to policy makers in a number of important legislative processes, including:
- VANS and PTNs licensing regimes
- Facilities leasing and interconnection guidelines
- Telkom rate review
- Telecommunications Amendment Act
- Electronic Communications and Transactions Act
- Regulation of Interception & Provision of Communication-Related Information Act
- Film and Publications Amendment Act
- Electronic Communications Act
ISPA produces regulatory advisories on issues of importance to the industry and makes these advisories publicly available via its web site.
ISPA and the South Africa community
The Internet industry believes that it should give back to the community at large. Many of ISPA's members provide cost-based or free services to educational organisations and other non-profit organisations.
In 2001, ISPA launched its own social development program, partnering with UniForum SA to provide Internet training to school teachers. Since inception, 1142 teachers have been successfully trained. Every year the Teachers' Training Award Ceremony takes place at iWeek. The awards recognise teachers who have participated in the skills project and successfully imparted their newly-acquired knowledge to the local communities.
UniForum South Africa
Uniforum SA is a non-profit organisation tasked with the administration of the CO.ZA domain name space. With over 400000 registrations, the majority of South African domain names can be found in CO.ZA. These names represent 95% of the total number of registrations in .ZA and a large percentage of African ccTLD registrations for the entire African continent.
Funds resulting from UniForum's domain registration activities are applied to education in South Africa. Education is a common passion amongst the CO.ZA community as a sound education results in a more competitive economy and ultimately a better life for all the citizens of this country.
Through its participation in the Mindset Computer Science Curriculum project, NetDay School of the Month project and ISPA Teacher Training initiative, the organisation attempts to address learner education, educator development and the provision of IT infrastructure.
UniForum's social development takes place under the CO.ZA Cares banner, honouring those parties who have registered CO.ZA domain names, thereby keeping our country ahead in the road to a better education.
About the Internet Society and its South Africa chapter
The Internet Society is a not-for-profit membership organisation founded in 1991 to provide leadership in the management of Internet related standards, educational, and policy development issues. It has chapters in over 90 countries around the world. Through its current initiatives in support of education and training, Internet standards and protocol, and public policy, ISOC has played a critical role in ensuring that the Internet has developed in a stable and open manner.
It is the organisational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) and other Internet-related bodies.
The Internet Society South African Chapter (ISOC-ZA) supports the ideals and initiatives of the global body. ISOC-ZA is specifically concerned with finding ways to bridge the growing digital divide in Africa generally and South Africa in particular. With over 800 members, ISOC-ZA carefully monitors policy and regulatory issues affecting Internet users as well as how local industry acts within the global Internet village.
Should you have any queries please contact | iWeek (at) ispa (dot) org (dot) za
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