Internet Ecosystem Innovation Committee (IEIC) Formed by Google, QTS, Telxius, Hilton, Cigna, Bank of America, Freddie Mac, Telia Carrier, Ciena, Blade Group, CenturyLink, and InterGlobix to Stimulate Innovation, Regional Economies and Internet Infrastructure Growth Globally
The IEIC’s mission is to partner with communities globally to create new Internet nexus points through partnership with local municipalities, academia and businesses. Proper functioning and proliferation of the global Internet as a central part of everyday life, economic development and business success requires a cross functional group of business leaders to drive initiatives and assist with strategic planning. The Internet requires networks to exchange traffic (peering points) and the reliance on only a few global peering locations creates risk and limits opportunity for more communities to participate in the Internet’s growth and economic potential.
IEIC founding members include:
- Vint Cerf – Chief Internet Evangelist Google, Honorary Chairman IEIC
- QTS – Clint Heiden, Chief Revenue Officer
- Telia Carrier – Staffan Gojeryd, Chief Executive Officer
- Telxius – Rafael Arranz, Chief Operating Officer
- Hilton – Michael Leidinger, Chief Technology Officer
- Cigna – Mark Boxer, Global Chief Information Officer
- Blade Group – Asher Kagan, Chief Executive Officer
- Ciena – Steve Alexander, Chief Technology Officer
- Freddie Mac – Frank Nazzaro, Chief Information Officer and CTO
- Bank of America – Howard Boville, Chief Technology Officer
- QTS – Jon Greaves, Chief Technology Officer
- CenturyLink – Andrew Dugan, Chief Technology Officer
- InterGlobix – Vinay Nagpal, President, IEIC Secretary & Independent Facilitator
The IEIC will work to provide insight and guidance for municipalities that wish to more actively participate in the growth of the Internet globally and the subsequent economic opportunities available. The IEIC has a global focus and is not based on a single geographic region.
“We believe that while the Internet performs well today we must look forward to a future in which it plays an even more critical role,” said Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist, Google, and Honorary Chairman of IEIC. “Many new applications and technical advances will only increase our need for reliability and capacity. We believe the remedy is to increase network capacity and to add more peering points. Local communities will benefit through job creation, attraction of new businesses, increased engineering and construction projects and the attraction of students to regional Universities.”
To read the full release, click here.
