GCC is set to experience a surge in the use of various Internet platforms as consumers turn away from physical offerings during the ongoing global COVID-19 outbreak and forced people to stay at home, while many facets of human life have moved online. In line with this sudden shift, the RIPE NCC and the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) have been looking for innovative ways to minimize the impact of the lockdown on important Internet development efforts ╤ both within the UAE and at the regional level. In line with this, a virtual two-day workshop for government agencies was held recently. The workshop focused on using the RIPE Database, Internet measurements (including RIPE Atlas), and tools. It included presentations, exercises, live discussions and demos, and best practices. Abdulrhman Almarzouqi, director of cybersecurity at TRA, said: "The outbreak of coronavirus has brought huge challenges across the globe. We are proud to have once again, partnered with RIPE NCC on this noteworthy initiative. "Collaborating with them demonstrates our continuing commitment towards increasing and consolidating key engagement between the government and other stakeholders, especially across topics related to Internet resources and development. "The move shows the UAE government's keenness to drive in more Internet growth and development, the power of digital." The first day of online sessions focused on the crucial role of the RIPE Database in supporting Internet coordination by allowing network operators to quickly access relevant contacts and other information relating to specific IP resources. Participants learned about its functions and scope, and discovered how to access stats on network performance and resources in the country. The focus of the second day was on RIPEstat and RIPE Atlas, two free tools that are widely used by network operators today. The RIPEstat session focused on the various helpful widgets that can visualize BGP routing information and RIPE Database data (among other things). RIPE Atlas is a global network of over 10,000 probes that measure Internet connectivity and reachability, providing an unprecedented understanding of the state of the Internet in real time. Attendees learned how to create real-time measurements with the network, and how to make use of the command line interface tool set. Special attention was also given to the RIPE Atlas' Routing Information Service (RIS), an initiative aimed at collecting and storing Internet routing data. Chafic Chaya, regional communications manager at the RIPE NCC, said: "The whole world has been taken aback by the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, with much of our daily activities now taking place online. "Remote technologies will enable RIPE NCC to share resources over great distances, allowing it to provide training and support in real-time. We are grateful to the TRA for partnering with us in this endeavor. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to support the infrastructure of the Internet through technical coordination in the GCC, especially during critical times like today." The online workshop was part of the RIPE NCC's continuing efforts to support its members and the wider Internet community. The RIPE NCC works for a more stable and resilient Internet through the reliable allocation of Internet number resources, maintaining key Internet infrastructure, and supporting the security of the Internet's routing system. According to industry experts, the FinTech market alone in MENA is set to reach a record high of $2.5 billion by 2022, with GCC countries playing a major role in the growth of the sector. — SG
