This year marks two decades since the launch of +RAÍCES, the program created by LACNIC aimed at strengthening critical Internet infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean through the installation of DNS root server copies.
Over the past 20 years, +RAÍCES has been much more than a technical program: it has established itself as a pioneering initiative in the region, promoting collaboration among operators, service providers, and the technical community.
For this article, we spoke with Ernesto Majó, Executive Director of LACNIC; Carlos Martínez, Chief Technology Officer; and Guillermo Cicileo, Head of R&D, to learn firsthand about the challenges, lessons learned, and future outlook of this key initiative for strengthening Internet resilience in our region.
Urgent Beginnings, Decisive Actions
In 2004, there were only two root server copies in Latin America and the Caribbean, one in Mexico and one in Brazil. This limitation created a significant reliance on infrastructure outside the region, which directly impacted on the stability, speed, and resilience of the Domain Name System (DNS), a central component for the Internet’s operation.
“At the time, there was no initiative in the region promoting the installation of root server copies,” recalls Ernesto Majó, who was then Communications Manager at LACNIC and one of the promoters of the program. “We partnered with the Internet System Consortium (ISC), operator of the ‘F’ root server, who were deploying copies using anycast technology in other regions. That’s how +RAÍCES was born and supported the first seven installations. At LACNIC, we contributed our knowledge of the region and contact with our community to identify locations and organizations capable of hosting these servers. We also provided the equipment and financed their operation for a period. It was a phase fully managed by LACNIC,” says Majó, now LACNIC’s Executive Director.
That initial phase of the program marked the beginning of a sustained effort. What started as a response to a critical need evolved over time, broadening its scope, impact, and strategic objectives. +RAÍCES began as a one-time solution but became a key program for the technical autonomy and resilience of the regional Internet ecosystem.
A Pioneering Vision
Since its inception, +RAÍCES actively promoted the installation of anycast copies of root servers in the region at a time when similar initiatives did not exist. This early vision positioned LACNIC and the regional community in a leading role in the development of a more robust, resilient, and distributed Internet.
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Over time, other root server operators approached LACNIC to explore collaboration opportunities for the installation of anycast copies in the region. “Today, there are many copies installed in Latin America and the Caribbean, corresponding to different operators (letters),” explains Majó.
During that period, LACNIC prioritized countries and infrastructure where copies were needed, focusing on DNS stability and resilience, reaching areas that previously lacked coverage.
Along the way, LACNIC entered into cooperation agreements with organizations such as ICANN, Netnod, and RIPE NCC, and established itself as a key facilitator between root server operators and local Internet service providers. Thus, +RAÍCES helped strengthen the region’s critical infrastructure, promoting greater equity and participation in the global ecosystem.
Over time, other root server operators approached LACNIC to explore collaboration opportunities for the installation of anycast copies in the region. “Today, there are many copies installed in Latin America and the Caribbean, corresponding to different operators (letters),” explains Majó.
During that period, LACNIC prioritized countries and infrastructure where copies were needed, focusing on DNS stability and resilience, reaching areas that previously lacked coverage.
Along the way, LACNIC entered into cooperation agreements with organizations such as ICANN, Netnod, and RIPE NCC, and established itself as a key facilitator between root server operators and local Internet service providers. Thus, +RAÍCES helped strengthen the region’s critical infrastructure, promoting greater equity and participation in the global ecosystem.
As infrastructure in the region grew and the root operators themselves developed their own deployment strategies, LACNIC’s role in the +RAÍCES program also evolved.
“We moved from directly managing the installation of root server copies to assuming the role of facilitator and coordinator,” says Majó. “Today, we facilitate interactions between stakeholders, advise on the technical feasibility of the projects, and accompany the entire process until the installation is completed.”
To date, +RAÍCES has directly collaborated and provided various forms of support in the installation of more than 30 root server copies in the region, with a strong emphasis on geographic equity and local capacity building. Each of these installations is more than a new technical node — it is a key element that strengthens DNS resilience, improves Internet availability in the region, and contributes to the overall stability of the network.
More than Technology: Regional Resilience and Capacity Building
“The importance of the program is not limited to technical aspects,” explains LACNIC CTO Carlos Martínez. “We gave the region a concrete role in strengthening global Internet stability, something it previously lacked. And this progress was accompanied by knowledge transfer, training, and capacity building.”
The root server copies installed in Latin America and the Caribbean benefit not only local users but the global ecosystem as a whole. As Martínez points out: “DNS traffic knows no borders. Even if a copy is installed in a city in Latin America, it could be serving queries from anywhere in the world.”
Thanks to +RAÍCES, the region went from being a blind spot on the global DNS map to becoming an active player that contributes directly to Internet stability and security.
One of the program’s most recent milestones and a testament to these 20 years of work is the agreement signed between LACNIC and the University of Southern California, as a result of which the B-Root server was renumbered using IP space managed by LACNIC. This allows diversifying the management of the IP resources used by the root servers, increasing the global resilience of the DNS.
Looking Ahead
Twenty years after its creation, things have changed profoundly. “Today, the challenges we face are different from those we faced in 2004,” notes Guillermo Cicileo, Head of Internet Infrastructure Research and Development at LACNIC. “Infrastructure is more robust, operators are more active, and the critical issue of the lack of root server copies is no longer as pressing.”
However, the work is far from finished. “We have a consolidated foundation we must sustain. And on that foundation, we must continue to promote actions that address the needs of today’s Internet,” he adds.
In this new context, +RAÍCES remains active with a renewed mission: to support today’s critical infrastructure needs, promote operator diversity, and contribute to strengthening the region’s technical ecosystem.
Interested in Being Part of +RAÍCES?
LACNIC continues to welcome applications from organizations interested in hosting root server copies across Latin America and the Caribbean. Each proposal is evaluated in coordination with our program partners, considering its technical feasibility, associated costs, and the capacity of the host organization.
+RAÍCES also offers collaboration on other DNS-related needs. If your organization is facing technical or infrastructure challenges in this area, we encourage you to reach out to us.
