We’ve recently updated the Content and Service Providers (CaSPs) Policy.

The major change is that we are now ready, willing and able to set up Settlement Free Peerings with content and service providers, under certain conditions.

What it means

A settlement-free peering is a voluntary connection between two separate networks for the purpose of exchanging traffic between the customers of each of those networks. The peering must be for the mutual interest and benefit for REANNZ, our members and the CaSP.

The idea is to keep costs down by neither peer paying the other for the exchanged traffic, while at the same time adding value to their own networks.

It means that we (REANNZ) could peer with all sorts of content and services giving our members access to the content they provide directly over our network itself – rather than via their normal internet connection. The settlement-free peering we have with Google is an example of this. Given that there are no data caps on the REANNZ network, this means that the more peering partners we have that provide content you use, the cheaper your overall internet costs should become.

Other changes

The other changes to the policy are purely cosmetic, to reflect the change in branding emphasis that we’ve mentioned before. The logo on the front page has changed, and we’re now referring to the REANNZ network rather than to KAREN.

View the policy

You can find the updated policy on the Publications page of our website, or you can download it directly here.