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Internet Stability and Security

Deadline

31 May, 2022

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The Internet is permanently under construction. Ensuring its stability and security is essential to strengthen user trust and foster Internet growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This line of funding focuses on four key themes or thematic axes and a subcategory related to the use and application of Blockchain technology for Internet stability and security.

Cybersecurity

Funding will be provided to initiatives that promote Internet security with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Topics of interest include:

  • Domain Name System (DNS). Innovative approaches, such as DNSSEC or others, that increase Internet users’ trust in the Domain Name System and in the various online services they access.
  • Routing security. Initiatives that support greater deployment of technologies that favor routing system security, including RPKI, RPKI extensions, routing registries, and the adoption of good practices such as MANRS.
  • Measurements. Initiatives that study the level of deployment of Internet security technologies, vulnerabilities and trends at the regional level.
  • Confidentiality of communications. Strategies and solutions to improve the confidentiality of Internet traffic.
  • Data security and integrity. Solutions to strengthen data security and mitigate data leaks.
  • Internet of Things security.
  • End-user device security. Alternatives to improve security at the end-user device level.
  • Capacity building in cybersecurity. Proposals that are sustainable over time and that seek to build capacity in Internet infrastructure security among specific communities.
Internet Resilience 

Resilience refers to the Internet’s ability to maintain an acceptable level of service in the event of failures that affect information traffic. Resilience is often considered a metric of Internet health. 

The Internet is always subject to potential threats and vulnerabilities. This demands the development of new technologies and the deployment of collaborative efforts to make the Internet more resistant to the vulnerabilities inherent to its infrastructure and potentially malicious activities that seek to destabilize its operation.

FRIDA seeks to finance initiatives that strengthen Internet resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean. Topics of interest include:

  • Distributed Denial of Service Attacks (DDoS). Innovative approaches to prevent DDoS attacks or promote the large-scale adoption of existing technologies.
  • DNS. Deployment of anycast DNS services or other innovative solutions.
  • Monitoring and mitigation of anomalies. Automated monitoring mechanisms that will allow identifying and mitigating incidents such as packet losses, Internet blocks or routing anomalies.
  • Collaboration with global measurement projects. Efforts for our region to contribute with measurement projects such as Atlas, Measurement Lab, RouteViews, RIPE RIS and others.
Interconnection

Interconnection covers the different mechanisms through which Internet operators enable Internet traffic. It includes both technical aspects as well as business strategies for operators to connect among themselves.

The consolidation of the Internet in Latin America and the Caribbean relies on an efficient and reliable interconnection of networks that maximizes the cost-benefit ratio so that the Internet will be more affordable.

FRIDA seeks to finance initiatives that strengthen regional interconnection. Topics of interest include:

  • Internet exchange points. Initiatives to bring network operators together and encourage the creation of Internet exchange points and/or to strengthen existing IXPs, including efforts to improve access to content distribution networks (CDNs).
  • Measurements. Initiatives to study the state of interconnection in the countries of the region, monitor IXP traffic, and identify regional trends.
  • Traffic management: Tools to measure the effectiveness of the internal traffic management practices implemented by IXPs and analysis of traffic management strategies with a focus on interconnection.
  • BGP. Automated BGP configuration and management to facilitate interconnection efforts.
  • Capacity building in interconnection. Proposals that seek to build capacity in the field of interconnection among specific communities and which are sustainable over time.

Network Operation

The Internet depends on proper network operation. Internet providers in Latin America and the Caribbean have the opportunity to increase the sophistication of their network operation strategies through innovation and automation. 

This subtopic focuses only on small and medium operators. FRIDA seeks to finance initiatives that promote innovation in Internet network management in Latin America and the Caribbean. Topics of interest include:

  • Automation and innovation. Tools for automated network management, including network operation and monitoring, and innovative solutions for the operation of networks/datacenters.
  • BGP. Training and research to encourage automation in BGP configuration and management.
  • Domain Name System (DNS). Process automation tools to facilitate the management of DNS servers, both authoritative and recursive.
  • Measurements. Systems to visualize and update network status for integrated network management and other measurement tools.
  • Innovations in network architecture. Innovative strategies to improve network architecture, including reviews of service needs, the implementation of enhancements to configuration and security audits.

Subcategory

Use and Application of Blockchain Technology for Internet Stability and Security

Projects presented in this subcategory should focus on the use and application of Blockchain technology in relation to one of the four main thematic axes included in the Internet Stability and Security category, more specifically, Cybersecurity, Resilience, Interconnection, and Network Operation, and/or in relation to one or more specific subtopics. 

In this subcategory, applicants may present research projects, case studies, and/or proofs of concept and/or prototypes designed to achieve practical goals and specific original results related to the use and application of Blockchain technology for Internet Stability and Security. 

Since this is a recent area of study and practical application, projects should seek to obtain results that will contribute to practical and concrete solutions and/or to generate knowledge that may be useful to expand and promote the topic in our region. 

Purpose

The main purpose of the FRIDA program is to support projects, initiative,s or solutions that contribute to the consolidation of a global, open, stable, and secure Internet. Two formats are available:

Grants 

FRIDA Grants provide non-reimbursable funds and technical support to projects, initiatives, or solutions with a maximum duration of 12 months. 

Awards 

FRIDA Awards offer economic recognition and highlight projects, initiatives, or solutions with proven, concrete impact. 

Beneficiaries

For both formats (Grants or Awards), applicants must be based in and conduct their activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, specifically in territories that are part of the LACNIC service region. Proposals should also focus on these territories. 

In all cases, the following groups may apply to the FRIDA Program: 

  • Operators, IXPs, NOGs, or other actors in the technical community 
  • Universities, research centers, or working groups/experts 
  • Associations, cooperatives, and other civil society organizations 
  • Public and/or government agencies 
  • Private entities and/or companies

Non-reimbursable financial support and technical follow-up

Grants 

Projects, initiatives, or solutions selected under the Grants format may each request financial support from US$10,000 to US$40,000. Any project carried out with the support of FRIDA must use open-source software and/or open-source hardware.

In addition to financial support, the FRIDA Program follows the execution of the project and provides opportunities for the dissemination of its results and the knowledge generated. 

Awards
Projects, initiatives, or solutions selected under the Awards format will each receive a recognition from LACNIC, US$10,000 in financial support.

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About LACNIC

FRIDA is an initiative of LACNIC, the Internet Address Registry for Latin America and the Caribbean.

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