The APNIC Development Program A global, open, stable, and secure that serves the entire

Asia Pacific community The Internet in the Asia Pacific

For millions of people across the Asia Pacific the Internet is an essential fact of life. From all walks of life, they depend on it for their livelihoods, health, education and much more. For many, it has always been there and is always available.

But there are millions of others who are still unconnected; and millions more who have only limited or restricted access to the Internet. If they are to be better educated, healthy, and more productive citizens of the Asia Pacific, it is essential they get connected.

To get people, business, and organizations connected – and ensure they stay connected – takes robust and resilient modern networks, properly managed by trained and experienced technicians. Just as we all need well-trained doctors to help keep us fit and healthy, the Internet needs well-trained technicians and engineers to help keep it fast, reliable, secure and inexpensive.

But the Internet is growing fast – too fast for any static curriculum to keep up. What we need - as well as good tertiary training - is current and relevant experiential learning, through interactive workshops, tutorials, fellowships and technical assistance.

A truly healthy Internet requires a vibrant, hands-on approach to training for all those involved in building and maintaining it.

1 The Challenges

Many reports predict the Internet boom in the Asia Pacific will continue with strong growth in traffic, devices and users. By 2019, the region will have the most Internet traffic from mobile devices in the world.1 Another report2 on Pacific Island nations says recent submarine cable installations have resulted in an explosion of capacity. Across the Pacific, international Internet bandwidth jumped more than 1,500% between 2007 and 2014, rising from fewer than 100 Mbit/s to over 1 Gbit/s.

But those who travel the region know the availability, stability, speed, and security of Internet services vary widely from place to place. Users in some developing economies tolerate conditions that are unacceptable in the developed world, and which will seriously limit the benefits that the Internet can deliver.

The Human Challenge The Technical Challenge

The single biggest factor affecting with network skills in emerging Meanwhile, the region is facing 3) Stability and scalability: 6) Regulation: The Internet’s the Internet’s success is the technologies and for well-trained a growing list of technical Having reached the success is based on capacity of service providers teams that focus on higher value- challenges including: “first billion” users in the a unique model of to properly build and manage added activities”. booming cities of the Asia consensus-driven and their networks. For a secure, 1) The transition to IPv6: Pacific, networks are now accessible processes. reliable and efficient Internet The IDC report estimated that With IPv4 resources all reaching across the digital It is an inclusive, multi- infrastructure, the businesses, at the end of 2012 there was a but exhausted globally, divide to the region’s stakeholder community managers and engineers shortage of just over 250,000 IPv6 is the only viable remotest communities on using standards that responsible must all all have the professionals with networking option for the Internet’s a large scale. are freely available to skills to properly do their jobs. skills in the region (excluding future growth in the Asia build on. It’s important While providing reliable services Greater and ). It Pacific region. 4) Efficiency and cost: that regulation does not which are available “24x7”, predicts this shortage will grow to Wherever they are, unexpectedly restrict or businesses must plan and manage more than 450,000 networking 2) Improved security: From networks must always be damage this model. rapid growth, deal with growing professionals by the end of DDoS attacks to hacking, efficient; whether they are security challenges, and adapt 2016 and from there, continue malware and how to safely connecting small, remote 7) Research: With to new technologies such as to worsen. manage information communities at the lowest the Internet’s rapid IPv6 – while often operating in a in the cloud; security possible cost or delivering growth and improving competitive environment. remains the top priority services cheaply and technologies, we need of network engineers and efficiently to millions of research that will help A report3 from technology administrators around users in the largest cities. us understand where the analysts, IDC, warns of a shortage the region. problems are; where they of such technical skills saying: 5) Localization: Networks will be in the future; and “The Asia Pacific trends show need to localize. Internet what we need to do to fix an increasing need for people Exchange Points (IXPs) them. allow local content to stay local, lowering network costs, and increasing speed and efficiency.

1 “Global Internet Report 2015: Mobile Evolution and Development of the Internet” ISOC July 2015 2 “Economic and Social Impact of ICT in the Pacific” Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility 2015 3 “The Evolution of the Networking Skills Gap in the Asia/Pacific”. William Lee PhD. June, 2013 2 3 The Community The APNIC APNIC serves 56 economies in the Asia Pacific region that together Response Response account for more than half of the world’s population, and where the Across the Asia Pacific, Internet As the Internet registry for the vast majority of global Internet engineers are doing their best to Asia Pacific, APNIC is responsible development activity will occur build and manage networks that for the management and in the years ahead. We support are robust, resilient, and efficient. distribution of critical Internet over 10,000 ISPs and other In some cases, professional resources that are essential to the network operators, who together networks and community stable and reliable operation of are building and maintaining the organizations are being formed the Internet. region’s Internet infrastructure. as important mechanisms for knowledge sharing and A non-government, not-for- As part of its mission, APNIC professional development. profit, membership-based is actively involved in the These include so-called Network organization, it is one of five development of the Asia Pacific Operator Groups (NOGs) Regional Internet Registries Internet community. It provides for technical and operational (RIRs) worldwide handling the training and technical assistance, development; Computer Security fair distribution and responsible and invests in activities that Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs management of Internet Protocol support community and human or CERTs) for security issues; (IP) and Autonomous System capacity development. APNIC and associations of Internet (AS) numbers and related also supports and facilitates Service Providers (ISPAs) for services globally. the deployment of important organizational coordination. infrastructure such IXPs, root servers, and devices used These community groups play a to monitor and measure the vital role in the development and Internet itself. maintenance of the networks that make up the Internet. They also make ideal development partners, for the delivery of training and capacity building directly into local communities.

4 5 Training Technical Fellowships Community Grants and Research Assistance Development Awards The aim of APNIC’s technical Every year, APNIC provides APNIC is committed to world- training is to improve the APNIC’s Technical Assistance fellowships to members of the APNIC supports the continuing APNIC manages a successful class, research and development knowledge and expertise of supports the region’s Internet Asia Pacific Internet community development of the Asia Pacific’s grants and awards program called initiatives looking at routing, Internet network operators, community in the deployment to allow them to attend technical thriving community of NOGs the Information Society Innovation security, DNS, IPv6, policy and IP engineers, managers, educators, and maintenance of scalable training and conferences where because they play a crucial role in Fund (ISIF Asia) that supports addressing issues. This research and regulators, ensuring they and resilient networks using they can engage and learn the operation of the Internet. national and regional projects that is designed to inform APNIC’s adopt and use best current internationally-recognized, best from recognized international use the Internet to achieve social operational and policy activities practices. This helps them make current practices. experts. The APNIC fellowship In addition to its NOG support, and economic development in and to assist community members full and efficient use of their program places special emphasis APNIC also organizes its own the region. to better understand the operation Internet resources and effectively APNIC works with recognized on supporting diversity in annual conference and partners of the global Internet. apply new technologies and Internet specialists to provide the community, ensuring the with other regional bodies An established and respected techniques. customized technical mentoring participation of women, young to organize the Asia Pacific program that has supported It also helps the APNIC on core APNIC competencies and people and those from less Regional Internet Conference numerous important initiatives, community to better understand APNIC also provides training services; improve the technical developed economies. on Operational Technologies ISIF Asia has invested in and identify technical problems in broader Internet policy understanding of Internet (APRICOT). APNIC also sponsors Internet infrastructure and and suggest possible solutions and governance matters and technologies in practical ways; and supports a wide range services that are affordable and and strategies. advocates the importance of and provide technical support for of other Asia Pacific events efficient, innovative Internet technical expertise in discussions the deployment of root servers and organizations. applications that are successful about managing the global and IXPs. and sustainable models for the Internet. provision of Internet services.

6 7 APNIC – A Respected and Recognized Partner

With more than 5,000 Members in almost every nation of the Asia Pacific, APNIC has spent 20 years helping to build a world-class community of Internet service providers to serve the region’s 3 billion citizens. Many of its 70-plus staff travel regularly to events and activities around the region to support the needs of Members, provide training and technical assistance, or give presentations at conferences. APNIC also partners with many local, national and regional organizations through MoUs, sponsorships and informally to support the continuing development of the Internet.

APNIC’s success in partnering and seeking financial support for its activities is founded on five important assets:

1) A strong technical focus and regional recognition as a source of best practice and expertise

2) Neutrality and independence from any particular vendors, services, or technologies

3) Financial strength and transparency

4) Robust regional networks and relationships

5) Long track record of successful management and implementation

8 Get in touch!

APNIC welcomes support for its Development Program, especially for its work in less developed economies. If you are interested in learning more about APNIC’s activities or would like to provide support, please contact:

Duncan Macintosh Development Director [email protected]

Paul Wilson Director General [email protected] www.apnic.net