Operationalizing Internet Resilience:
The Role of Measurement in Strengthening India’s DNS Ecosystem
High Level Thematic Dialogue | ICANN85 Event by NIXI
At ICANN85 in Mumbai, the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) hosted a high-level thematic panel discussion on AIORI (Advanced Internet Operations Research in India), an initiative focused on strengthening India’s Internet resilience through structured measurement and research.
The panel discussion was driven by Anupam Agrawal, who facilitated dialogue among key stakeholders from the government, technical community, and infrastructure operators on the importance of institutionalizing Internet measurement practices in India.
Shri Alkesh Sharma, in his keynote address, emphasized that as the Internet becomes the core national infrastructure supporting governance, finance, healthcare, education, and commerce, resilience must move beyond reactive measures. He highlighted the need for proactive approaches, stating, “Modern Internet infrastructure requires a shift toward anticipation and preparedness.” He further underlined that structured and data-driven Internet measurement frameworks are essential to enable real-time visibility and support evidence-based decision making.
Dr. Devesh Tyagi, CEO of the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), reinforced that strengthening Internet resilience begins with understanding operational realities. He stressed the foundational role of measurement, noting, “One important dimension of strengthening resilience is measurement. To improve what we operate and manage, we must first be able to observe and understand it.” Continuous measurement, he added, helps identify vulnerabilities, improve operational readiness, and guide informed policy decisions.
During the session, Mr. Anand Raje presented on the AIORI initiative, an indigenous Internet measurement and research platform designed to bridge operations, research, and policy. AIORI enables structured observation of network and DNS ecosystem performance through distributed measurement infrastructure, edge measurement devices, and collaborative research initiatives.
He also discussed various initiatives such as L-Root deployments across multiple Indian cities, measurement of DNS traffic distribution patterns, and resilience stress-testing experiments. These highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Government of India, to strengthen resilience through localized measurement capabilities, better understanding regional traffic dynamics, and improving preparedness for disaster scenarios.
The discussion concluded with a shared understanding that institutionalizing Internet measurement work in India is essential for strengthening DNS stability and overall Internet resilience. The AIORI initiative represents a forward-looking effort to build national capability while contributing to global knowledge on Internet operations.
Through continued collaboration among government bodies, technical communities, academia, and global institutions, India is taking meaningful steps toward operationalizing Internet resilience and ensuring a more secure, stable, and measurable digital future.
