Google cache servers allow YouTube, search and other services to be available locally, which means lower latency for users because there is no international transit involved.

Africa has 15 exchange points, and they all acknowledge that the presence of Google cache servers has been a major motivation for ISPs and other content providers to exchange content locally.

"Google cache has been a major attraction," said Ayitey Bulley, a network consultant. "Telcos are advertising how YouTube videos do not buffer and download faster on their network, but it is only because they are peering at the exchange."

With the recent entry into Africa of several fiber optic cables connecting the whole continent, focus has shifted from infrastructure projects to ways to make connectivity cheaper. Local hosting and peering has been identified as a major factor in lowering Internet connectivity.

"Africa is having extensive infrastructure but we can not lower costs if we keep buying transit links instead of exchanging content locally," said Adiel Akplogan, AfriNIC CEO, speaking at the opening ceremony of the peering forum last week. "Efficient interconnection is the critical element to lower costs."