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Community Engagement: Building a Trusted Reputation within the Interconnection Ecosystem

Why Community Engagement Matters​

The Internet runs on technology, but it thrives on trust and collaboration. Every peering agreement, IX membership, or partnership begins with a human relationship. Building a reputation within the interconnection community means being seen as reliable, transparent, and supportive of the ecosystem as a whole.

Analogy: Think of the interconnection ecosystem like a neighborhood. You don't just move in and put up fences; you build goodwill by helping your neighbors, showing up to meetings, and being part of the local culture. Over time, that trust is what opens doors to new opportunities.

Benefits of Strong Community Engagement​

  • Credibility: peers are more likely to interconnect with networks that are known and trusted.
  • Visibility: active participants are top of mind when opportunities arise.
  • Collaboration: being part of the conversation helps shape industry standards and best practices.
  • Resilience: in times of outage or crisis, established relationships make troubleshooting faster.
  • Reputation: a good community standing signals reliability to partners, investors, and regulators.

Ways to Engage with the Community​

1. Participate in Industry Forums and NOGs​

  • Attend and speak at NANOG, GPF, APRICOT, RIPE, AfPIF, regional NOGs.
  • Share experiences, lessons learned, and technical knowledge.
  • Even short lightning talks or case studies show willingness to contribute.
  • Why it matters: visibility and credibility—being seen as a peer, not just a participant.

2. Contribute to Open Source and Shared Tools​

  • Projects like PeeringDB and MANRS thrive on community input.
  • Even small contributions (bug reports, translations, documentation) build reputation.
  • Why it matters: shows commitment to shared progress, not just self-interest.

3. Publish Knowledge and Case Studies​

  • Blog posts, white papers, or newsletters highlight your expertise.
  • Example: "How we cut latency to Cloud X by 20ms through regional peering."
  • Why it matters: positions your IX/network as a thought leader.

4. Mentor and Support New Entrants​

  • Offer guidance to new ISPs, IXPs, or engineers entering the community.
  • Participate in mentorship programs or panels at conferences.
  • Why it matters: giving back builds goodwill and strengthens the ecosystem.

5. Transparency and Communication​

  • Keep your PeeringDB record accurate and up-to-date.
  • Publish clear peering policies and contact details.
  • Respond promptly to peer requests or incident communications.
  • Why it matters: reputation for responsiveness makes you a preferred partner.

Pitfalls to Avoid​

  • Being absent: only showing up when you want something reduces trust.
  • Closed-door culture: secrecy about policies or traffic volumes can make others hesitant to engage.
  • Over-promising: reputation is fragile—if you promise services or support and don't deliver, trust evaporates.
  • Transactional approach: treating every interaction as a negotiation rather than a relationship.

Historical Context​

  • Early IXPs: grew because engineers came together to solve mutual problems. Those who shared openly became community leaders.
  • PeeringDB's success: is a direct result of being built by the community, for the community.
  • Today: community engagement is just as important as technical features—many peering decisions start with "we know and trust them" before the port is even considered.

Best Practices for Community Engagement​

  • Be visible - attend, speak, publish.
  • Be approachable - listen as much as you talk.
  • Be consistent - reputation is built over years, not single events.
  • Be collaborative - frame initiatives as "we" rather than "I."
  • Be generous - share knowledge, time, and tools without expecting immediate return.

Beginner's Takeaway​

  • Community engagement is how you build trust and visibility in the interconnection world.
  • It's about showing up, contributing, and being reliable.
  • Relationships drive interconnection - technical, business, and personal trust all reinforce each other.

✨ Your routers carry packets, but your reputation carries opportunities.