The needs of the internet and data exchange continue to shift around the world. In response, the internet itself is changing, with more opportunities for agility, connectivity, and security. One issue that companies are working to solve is how to transfer and share data without creating a congested, inefficient internet.
To ensure proper evolution of the internet, many companies are utilizing internet exchange points, or IXPs. IXPs are access points through which providers connect their networks and exchange traffic. While IXPs allow network operators to exchange traffic, they are not internet service providers and cannot, on their own, connect a user to the internet. Rather, IXPs serve as a foundation in which networks can send and receive traffic between other networks.
By exchanging traffic with other local providers at an IXP, the internet becomes ess congested and more efficient, leading to improved performance across the web, for cloud services and other applications.
So who uses and connects to IXPs? Typically, internet service providers (ISPs) connect in order to improve performance and reach for their customers. In addition, content providers, cloud providers and other networks that need to share and exchange information will utilize an IXP. Companies exchange this data on IXPs through a port on a platform to peer, access content or cloud services and simply exchange data traffic between networks. Peering allows networks to connect and exchange traffic without having to pay a third party to move the traffic across the internet. Peering is often less expensive t, and it gives network operators greater control over traffic flows.
One example of IXP’s being used in a global capacity is the recent partnership between DE-CIX, the operator of the world’s largest carrier and data center neutral Internet Exchange (IX), and Seaborn, a leading developer-owner-operator of subsea fiber optic cable systems. The two companies recently announced they are now offering access and interconnection services to DE-CIX IXs in places like Marseille, Madrid, Dallas and New York. The interconnection with DE-CIX provides Seaborn customers the ability to access DE-CIX IXs through a single one-stop-shop solution directly with Seaborn, or to select Seaborn’s network for transport connectivity to DE-CIX for the greatest amount of flexibility in transport and IX access – eliminating third-party colocation and cross-connect fees.
Through the partnership with Seaborn, thousands of networks in South America are now able to join DE-CIX, the largest neutral interconnection and peering ecosystem in the world. Especially interconnecting in New York becomes extremely attractive in comparison to Miami. Leveraging Seaborn’s low latency network and infrastructure, network operators from Latin America can enjoy the huge variety of connectivity and peering options at DE-CIX New York as their natural global gateway to North America, Canada and Europe at the same time.
This is just one of many examples of how the internet is evolving for easier and more efficient data transfers, without the risk of congestion and lower efficiency with a better cost structure than doing it on your own.
