4 October 2022 – The RIPE NCC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arab Information & Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO) to strengthen the partnership and exchange of expertise between the two organisations. The MoU was signed by Hans Petter Holen, Managing Director of the RIPE NCC, and Eng. Mohamed Ben Amor, Director General of the AICTO, during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference currently being held in Bucharest from 26 September to 14 October 2022.
This MoU marks a step towards strengthening mutual collaboration between the two organisations through a series of joint activities: conferences, meetings, training programmes, and awareness and promotional campaigns on IPv6 and RPKI. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing the development and efficiency of the Internet in Arab countries. A number of prominent figures, decision makers, heads of regulatory bodies, the League of Arab States and Arab delegations were present during the signing ceremony.
Eng. Mohamed Ben Amor, Director General of the AICTO, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with the RIPE NCC, as we recognise the importance of the Internet and related technologies in advancing the economic and business sectors in Arab countries. We aim to strengthen our collaboration with international organisations that specialise in network infrastructure development so we can support network operators in Arab countries and provide them with state-of-the-art, innovative expertise and technologies. We are proud to welcome the RIPE NCC as a member of the AICTO, and we look forward to a fruitful partnership that will facilitate the infrastructural development of Arab telecommunications and Internet networks.”
Hans Petter Holen, Managing Director of the RIPE NCC, said: “We are grateful to be a contributor to developing Internet networks in the Arab region, and we will strive to provide top-quality technical support, expertise and training to the AICTO. Over the years, there have been tremendous developments in technology and online services, which have increased the demand for enhanced Internet connection. At the RIPE NCC, we play an effective role in supporting sustainable development by strengthening economic growth through technical support, fostering capabilities and sharing expertise with our members, partners, Internet communities, governments and Arab regulatory bodies. We make a constant effort to assist them in adapting to rapid transformations in this sector so they are prepared to meet the needs of the future.”
Under the MoU, both parties will undertake efforts to build capabilities, provide effective analytical tools for assessing the performance of the Internet and support the work of the Arab Internet community through training programmes, meetings, workshops and initiatives focused on the transition to IPv6 and enhancing network connectivity and security.
