Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Penn calls for Internet Exchange Point to manage heavier online traffic from COVID-19 response

Penn calls for Internet Exchange Point to manage heavier online traffic from COVID-19 response

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has said he believes the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) and local internet service providers should find common ground to establish the long-discussed Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in the British Virgin Islands.

Effectively, an IXP is a physical infrastructure through which internet service providers exchange internet traffic between their networks.

Penn said an IXP is needed to manage the internet traffic that will arise from local social distancing protocols and school closures that government has now implemented in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat.

“The reality is that an IXP; what it gives is flexibility to navigate traffic locally. So normally when you go to the internet you have to go to Miami all the way up to California and then come back. But with the IXP, that traffic can be routed locally,” Penn explained.

“This will better facilitate virtual meeting, virtual learning environments for teachers and students, and will facilitate better access to government services online,” he added.


Premier needs to put pressure on TRC and ISP

The Opposition Leader also called on Premier Andrew Fahie to put pressure on the two entities to get the IXP up and running in the territory.

He said: “I think the challenge that we’re faced with the IXP are things that are non-insurmountable, they are things that we could get done quickly and I think the Premier needs to put pressure on the TRC and the telecom providers to ensure that infrastructure is in place to facilitate persons working from homes.”


Faster broadband speeds also needed

Penn further made fresh calls for faster internet speeds and increasing internet coverage; this time to better facilitate persons working remotely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The TRC and the telecom providers need to work towards beefing up existing broadband speeds, and availability of service to facilitate the shift that will occur with the population working at home,” Penn said.


New TRC Board established to get the job done

Premier Fahie had made a public declaration in the House of Assembly recently that the newly-installed TRC Board was hired to solve the problems of poor internet service and the associated high bills that have plagued the territory for a number of years.

He instructed the Board to call on government for all things necessary to get the issue fixed in the BVI.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×