APNIC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National (Hangzhou) Novel Internet Exchange (NNIX), marking an important step in advancing RPKI and IPv6 deployment in China and across the region.
The collaboration includes providing IPv6 and RPKI training for NNIX’s peering members and stakeholders. Both sides will engage in infrastructure development, including the development of suitable technical training and lab infrastructure for local and regional use.
As part of the MoU, APNIC and NNIX will work to establish an RPKI repository mirror in Hangzhou as a pilot project. This locally hosted copy of APNIC’s RPKI repository data will help network operators in China validate routing information more efficiently, improving access and reliability for operators.
The MoU was signed on 15 May 2026 during the 2026 Zhejiang Information and Communication Industry World Telecommunications and Information Society Day, attended by provincial government representatives, highlighting the growing importance of Internet infrastructure and security at both operational and policy levels.
This collaboration builds on earlier engagement between APNIC and NNIX with a December 2025 visit by APNIC’s Executive Council (EC) to Hangzhou, where the senior leadership from both organizations and local government representatives held high-level exchanges.
“NNIX, as China’s first national IXP and with more than 300-member network operators, is well-positioned to advance the economy’s IPv6 strategy through its partnership with APNIC. Wider adoption of RPKI by NNIX members and stakeholders — including China’s three largest operators and ISPs — will strengthen the resilience of the national cybersecurity ecosystem,” said Qian Junbo, General Manager of NNIX.
“Deploying an RPKI repository mirror at NNIX will bring RPKI data closer to networks in the region, reducing latency and improving route validation speed. This closer proximity is expected to facilitate more consistent use of Route Origin Validation (ROV) as RPKI is being deployed, and we aim to help China’s network operators step up their deployment through training,” said Jia Rong Low, Director General of APNIC.
RPKI is a specialized public key infrastructure (PKI) designed to enhance the security of the Internet’s routing system. It links Internet number resources — IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) — which are managed by APNIC, to cryptographic certificates, creating a chain of trust that allows network operators to verify the legitimacy of routing announcements. This helps prevent route hijacking, IP address spoofing, and misconfigurations that could disrupt internet connectivity.
“APNIC and NNIX will assess the impact of the mirror by measuring validation speed, data availability, and network latency. As RPKI deployment grows in China, changes in these metrics will provide valuable insight into whether similar mirrors could be deployed in other locations to support RPKI performance,” said Jia Rong Low.
Beyond infrastructure and technical training, APNIC and NNIX will also undertake community outreach and knowledge-sharing activities with members, operators, and the wider Internet community.
Through these efforts, the initiative aims to build the skills and awareness needed to support long-term adoption in these key technologies.
Looking ahead
This collaboration reflects a growing focus on strengthening Internet infrastructure through a combination of improved performance, greater resilience, and enhanced community capability. By combining local operational expertise with regional coordination, APNIC and NNIX aim to support a more secure and interoperable Internet ecosystem.
“Since 2019, China’s IPv6 adoption has accelerated rapidly. With the economy’s strong focus on cybersecurity, I’m optimistic — and look forward to China’s support — in becoming the first economy globally to achieve 100% RPKI deployment,” said Jia Rong Low.
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