Originally posted on DartPoints
What it is and why it matters to the Edge
As the edge continues to evolve, so does the meaningful concept of what we mean by an internet exchange point or IXP.
An Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is a physical infrastructure where carriers, Internet Service Providers (ISP), content delivery networks, web enterprises, hosting companies, and cloud providers connect locally. An Internet Exchange Point allows its participating members to interconnect directly and exchange Internet traffic through peering instead of relying on third-party networks to carry the traffic across the Internet for them.
In its simplest form, an IXP is a data center containing network switches to route traffic among the different network operators who would typically share the cost to maintain the IXP.
There’s a new way to look at colocation and IXs at the edge that deliver real and immediate value for carriers and set the stage for demand-driven peering in underserved edge markets.
Edge IX: Making (More Than) the Switch
The digital reality of today is stuck. But there is help on the way for underserved markets, carriers, ISPs and institutions like governments, schools and enterprises. For all the hype and promise, 5G and AI-enabled enabled capabilities remain out of reach for a wide array of digital markets, many of them bigger than you think.
The traditional model of delivering eyeballs back to core markets functions, but just barely and the cracks are showing in countless last-mile networks across the country.
Though they can vary, an IX that creates real value in underserved markets is more than a collection of routers, servers, and one or multiple network switches that route traffic between the networks of its members. IXPs are placed in a neutral location and are usually spread across countries to enable local networks to exchange traffic, often via the public network. Again, this common setup functions. It’s just not a good solution to meet growing demands.
Powered by DE-CIX, DartPoints IXs provide better and faster transport out-of-the-box that also establishes a future path for ecosystem growth and innovation.
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