Mossnet IP Network Peering Policy
August 1 2019
Overview
This document sets forth the Mossnet (“MS”) Policy for Settlement-Free Interconnection with Internet Networks (“Policy”), also referred to as “peering.”
MS Business regularly updates its Policy and maintains the current version of its Policy on the MS web site at https://mossnet.co.za/peering
MS strives to provide premier direct Internet access to all customers. To accomplish this, MS has developed this Peering Policy to provide guidelines
for the selection of interconnection candidates that wish to peer with MS. Interconnection candidates are based upon, among other things, costs,
port availability and bandwidth capacity at particular locations, and the overall strategic benefit MS will experience with the connection. Compliance
with the technical and operational requirements in the Policy does not guarantee a peering relationship with MS.
MS considers private as well as public peering initiatives. This Policy applies to all requests for settlement-free interconnection with a MS regional
Internet Network, either via dedicated connections (“private peering”) or via traffic exchange at a multi-party Internet exchange point (“public peering”).
For the purposes of this Policy, an Internet Network must be a single Autonomous System (“AS”).
Part 1 of the Policy details the interconnection requirements that an Internet Network requesting interconnection (the “Requester”) must meet in order to
qualify for settlement-free interconnection.
Part 2 of the Policy specifies the notification requirements for interconnecting networks, which both the Requester and MS must satisfy.
1. Interconnection and Operational Requirements
The following operational requirements apply both to the Requester and to the MS Network with which it desires to enter into a settlement-free interconnection arrangement.
1.1. The peer must use the same peering AS at each interconnection point and must announce a consistent set of routes at each point, unless otherwise
mutually agreed.
1.2. No transit or third party routes are to be announced; all routes exchanged must be Peer’s and Peer’s customers’ routes.
1.3. Neither party shall abuse the peering relationship by engaging in activities such as but not limited to: pointing a default route at the other or
otherwise forwarding traffic for destinations not explicitly advertised, resetting next-hop, selling or giving next-hop to others.
1.4. Each Internet Network shall implement “shortest exit/hot potato routing” and advertise routes consistent with that policy, unless both Internet Networks
mutually agree otherwise based on special circumstances.
1.5. If Peer’s network scope spans a continent and/or multiple continents, then Peer must consider peering at all exchange points that make sense unless
otherwise mutually agreed.
1.6. Each Peer will maintain accurate prefix and routing information in a publicly accessible Internet Routing Registry (IRR).
1.7. Mossnet will prefer peering sessions for the best path. Mossnet expects the Peer to do the same unless agreed otherwise.
1.8. Each Internet Network must establish and maintain traffic exchange links of sufficient robustness, aggregate capacity and geographic dispersion to
facilitate mutually acceptable performance across the interconnect links.
1.9. Each Internet Network will restrict its advertisements to non-transit routes originating within the geographic region for which peering is established and
will not propagate the received route announcements outside such region.
1.10. Each Internet Network must operate a fully functional 24×7 Network Operations Center (NOC).
1.11. All requirements of the Policy must continue to be met to continue a settlement-free interconnection relationship. Status under the policy will be evaluated
periodically. In the case of a change in ownership or control of an Internet Network with which MS has an interconnection agreement, status under
the Policy will be evaluated within 30 days of such change.
1.12. Each Internet Network must set next-hop to be itself, the advertising router of the network. Each Internet Network will propagate such routes to
its transit customers with its own router as next-hop.
2. Notification Requirements
The following notification requirements apply both to the Requester and to the MS Network with which it desires to enter into a settlement-free
interconnection arrangement.
2.1. Any outage or impairment to peering session which is identified by the remote network operator is to be reported to the MS NOC as soon as it is identified.
2.2. Upon identification of a customer-impacting peering event (outage), technicians will make themselves available for immediate troubleshooting and
restoration of the peering session.
2.3. Prior to the peering session being established, a copy of Network’s escalation procedures and contact information will be exchanged.
2.4. Each Internet Network must be responsive to unsolicited e-mail and network abuse complaints, as well as routing and security issues, providing a
knowledgeable technician within a two-hour period after notice.
2.5. MS will continue to monitor the development of the Internet and traffic conditions and make appropriate changes in this Policy as the Internet continues to
evolve. MS reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time.
2.6. All requests for settlement-free interconnection should be submitted to MS via e-mail at noc@mossnet.co.za