First RIPE Atlas Anchor Installed in Bolivia
28/08/2025
The first RIPE Atlas Anchor in Bolivia was installed during the second-to-last week of July. This marks an important step in studying Internet infrastructure in Bolivia and offers opportunities for improvement.
What is RIPE Atlas and Why Is It Important for Our Region?
RIPE Atlas is the world’s largest Internet measurement network, operated by the RIPE NCC. It consists of thousands of probes and anchors distributed worldwide that continuously measure Internet connectivity. These measurements provide valuable data on latency, packet loss, traffic routing, and the availability of online services.
The importance of the RIPE Atlas project for Latin America and the Caribbean is undeniable:
- Improvement of Internet quality: RIPE Atlas data helps identify bottlenecks, routing issues, and other anomalies that affect Internet service quality. This helps Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and network operators optimize their infrastructure and offer a better end-user experience.
- Monitoring network resilience: In a region prone to natural disasters and unexpected events, RIPE Atlas is an invaluable tool for monitoring network resilience. It allows network operators to respond quickly to disruptions and restore connectivity.
- Research and development: Researchers, engineers, and policymakers use RIPE Atlas data to study Internet behavior, identify trends, and design new solutions to enhance global infrastructure.
The Impact of the RIPE Atlas Anchor in Bolivia
The installation of the RIPE Atlas anchor will directly benefit Bolivia with increased visibility and the possibility of monitoring its Internet infrastructure. This will help local actors make informed decisions on network optimization, capacity planning, and incident response.
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Comteco Leads the Installation of the Anchor
Comteco, a key player in Bolivia’s telecommunications infrastructure sector, successfully led the installation of the country’s first RIPE Atlas anchor in its Cochabamba network. This initiative positions Bolivia as an active participant in the world’s largest Internet measurement network and underscores the commitment of local operators to improving connectivity, data openness, and network resilience in the region.
The experience included a virtualized anchor installation solution which leverages Comteco’s own infrastructure. While the deployment required meticulous configuration of the virtual environment (including specific ISO, secure virtual environments, network adjustments, IPv6 connectivity, and always-on availability), it enabled an agile, low-cost, and highly reliable installation. This approach demonstrates that hosting an anchor doesn’t require investing in any particular hardware.
For Comteco, hosting an anchor brings both technical and strategic benefits: access to timely measurements from hundreds of global probes and anchors directed to the locally hosted anchor, as well as recognition on official RIPE Atlas platforms. We hope this experience will inspire other providers in Bolivia and across the region to replicate the model and thus strengthen digital infrastructure through active participation in this important Internet measurement network.