Internet Society Sustainable Peering Infrastructure Funding Program 2025 (Up to USD $70,000)

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Submissions are now open for the Internet Society Sustainable Peering Infrastructure Funding Program. Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) are effective in improving the end-user experience and lowering access costs while catalyzing the development of the local Internet ecosystem.

Internet Society work with local communities to build IXPs in markets where they are needed, enhance existing IXPs to realize their full potential, and further develop organizations and communities that support peering and interconnection. Grant funds are available to assist in training, capacity building, community, local, and regional development, and equipment purchases (switches, optic modules, servers, and routers).

The Internet Society’s work is partially funded by generous grants from Meta and ICANN.

Sustainable Peering Infrastructure Funding Program Objectives

Increase the amount of Internet traffic within local infrastructure, reducing costs associated with traffic exchange between networks.
Provide support to build new and enhance existing IXPs to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Champion the development of peering and interconnection by building local capacity in collaboration with local or regional entities.

Sustainable Peering Infrastructure Funding Program Focus Areas

IXP Operational Support
- They support establishing or enhancing IXPs in markets that do not have them, where additional capacity will be useful, and where assistance will help the IXP realize its full potential in the Internet ecosystem. Developed markets often have developed IXP infrastructure, so the primary focus is on:
  - Emerging economies
  - Low-income economies
  - Small island developing states
Peering Ecosystem Organizational Support
- They also seek to strengthen the peering ecosystem by supporting organizations and systems that improve interconnection through capacity building, training, community building, and infrastructure development.

Funding Information

Funding availability varies based on the needs of the IXP or organization. Grants are available up to USD $70,000, and projects can run for up to 12 months.

Eligible Activities

Eligible funded activities include:

IXP equipment,
reasonable operational, governance, and
Business development costs, IP transit capacity to promote local CDN cache content distribution, and technical, policy, and best practice capacity-building and workshops.