A year ago, LACNIC launched the first edition of its Research and Development (R&D) Ambassadors Program with the goal of identifying, training, and supporting new technical leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative seeks to strengthen the development of an open, stable, and secure Internet by empowering professionals to become leaders within their local communities.
One of the highlights of the program is the experience of Celsa Sánchez of NIC Chile, who led a project for expanding the RIPE Atlas measurement network and promoting the adoption of BGP, DNSSEC, and RPKI in the country.
“We started with 58 probes and finished with 84, reaching regions where there were previously no probes at all. This represents a 45% increase and marks a turning point in our monitoring capacity,” Sánchez explained.
Her work also included talks, meetings with providers, and collaboration with universities, combining technology, community, and education.
Costa Rica: Municipal Monitoring and Technical Leadership at the Local Level
The second R&D Ambassador to share his experience was Andrés Cortés, head of the Information Technology Department at the Municipality of Carrillo, in the province of Guanacaste.
Cortés emphasized that, although municipalities are often the last link in the connectivity chain—they are end users of ISPs and IXPs—each actor who is part of the ecosystem has the responsibility to implement best practices and security measures such as IPv6, BGP, and RPKI.
As part of this commitment, a RIPE Atlas probe was installed in the municipal infrastructure to reinforce monitoring capabilities and participation in the global technical community. In his role as a LACNIC R&D Ambassador, Cortés led promotional efforts that far exceeded the initial goals. While the original plan was to deploy four RIPE Atlas probes, nine were activated and two more were delivered to the National University. Two anchor probes were also installed: one at the municipality and another at the Coopeguanacaste cooperative. Thanks to this expansion, the Guanacaste region is now visible on global measurement maps, where no active nodes previously existed.
Bolivia: Increased Technical Capacity and IPv6 Adoption
LACNIC Ambassador Richard Huchani shared the outcomes of his participation in the program, underlining the interest and expectations that exist in Bolivia regarding the strengthening of technical capabilities and enhancement of Internet infrastructure, despite the existing gaps.
Bolivia currently has 67 autonomous system numbers (ASNs), including universities, ISPs, local governments, and private companies. As an ambassador, Huchani worked with different stakeholders across the ecosystem, promoting initiatives focused on Internet measurements, the adoption of new technologies, and the strengthening of the community.
One of his most notable achievements was the expansion of the RIPE Atlas project. In 2024, there were 12 active probes in Bolivia, and they were concentrated along the country’s central corridor (La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba). Thanks to his efforts, probes were installed in historically underrepresented departments, such as Tarija and Oruro, and their number increased in major cities, reaching a total of 23 active probes by the end of May 2025 and representing a growth of more than 90%.
Additionally, IPv6 adoption in Bolivia increased from 20% to a peak of 31%, thanks to collaborative efforts with the banking sector, universities, and network operators. Huchani also highlighted the need to continue promoting best practices in RPKI, noting that at the start of the program over 95% of Bolivia’s IPv4 prefixes and more than 90% of its IPv6 prefixes were already signed.
Ecuador: Promoting IPv6 Deployment and the Installation of Probes
Hernán Samaniego took on the challenge of promoting IPv6 deployment in Ecuador, where initial resistance was common among local operators and technical professionals. Through a series of talks, workshops, and dialogue spaces, he managed to convert that distrust into interest, emphasizing the importance of IPv6 in light of IPv4 exhaustion.
Samaniego also promoted the use of Internet measurement tools, which had previously been largely unknown in Ecuador. His work has resulted in the installation of 18 new RIPE Atlas probes that have improved network monitoring capabilities and attracted the interest of other ISPs who would now like to participate in what he calls the “probe community.”
Another milestone was the creation of a WhatsApp group that now connects more than 400 researchers and professionals from Ecuadorian universities and where technical resources, training opportunities, and calls for proposals are shared daily. This informal network has been key to strengthening the country’s technical community and sustaining interest in key Internet issues.
Venezuela: Promoting Best Practices and Strengthening the Region
Raitme Citterio of Venezuela shared the results of his work, which was coordinated primarily through the country’s network operators group, a forum that brings together large, medium-sized, and small players.
His work focused on three thematic axes:
- IPv6 training, delivered through in-person workshops held in Caracas and the central-western region.
- Promotion of MANRS, Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security.
- Internet measurement, through the deployment of RIPE Atlas probes.
This work delivered tangible results: 70% of those who participated in the workshop held in Caracas expressed interest in implementing MANRS, while in the central-western region, 60% of attending ISPs shared this interest.
Following the workshop in Caracas, four RIPE Atlas probes were distributed, and one ISP committed to installing two more. In the western region, five probes were distributed (and are already operational), and two additional installations are underway.
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LACNIC’s R&D Ambassadors Program has proven the positive impact of incorporating local voices into the technical development of the Internet in the region. These experiences highlight how commitment, knowledge, and collaboration can transform local realities, thus building a stronger, more resilient, and secure ecosystem for all.
