Understanding internet connection with Ivo Ivanov, DE-CIX CEO and Matt Trifiro, Over the Edge Podcast host

When looking towards internet connection, the future of improved performance, enhanced security, reduced complexity, greater flexibility will rely on interconnection. The benefits are endless and because most businesses now rely on platform-based models rather than traditional on-premise systems, they need to have the ability to assemble solutions using third-party components that share data across ecosystems. Ivo Ivano, CEO of DE-CIX International, had the opportunity to sit down with Matt Trifiro, Chief Marketing Officer of Vapor IO, on the Over the Edge podcast. Produced by Caspian Studios and Vapor IO, Over the Edge is a podcast designed to keep listeners up to date on all the latest developments in the Edge industry. Co-hosts Matt Trifilo and Ian Faison, CEO of Caspian Studios, interview corporate leaders, open-source experts, technologists, journalists, analysts, and innovators pushing the boundaries of edge. In the most recent episode, Matt and Ivo discussed interconnection, the importance of integrating edge computing, and what technology will look like five years down the road. 

Where it all began

DE-CIX, the world’s leading neutral Internet Exchange (IX) operator, serves as a provider to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable benefits to revolutionize the future of connection as we know it. Ivo Ivanov began the podcast by touching upon his career in tech and what drew him to DE-CIX. As he describes it, he was drawn to “The magic of telecommunications and the magic around the internet itself.” Over time, he began to learn more about the industry, infrastructure, and much more which helped him pivot his role from an attorney to management. This provided him with an opportunity to begin his 15 year, ongoing career at DE-CIX. 

Understanding interconnection and connectivity capabilities

Interconnection states from bringing the A side networks and the B side networks together. Ivo explains that there are two types of networks; Outbound networks who create content and inbound networks who deliver internet access to homes and offices. Interconnection is the connectivity between these two networks and how they meet. Internet Exchange services are a key tool for optimizing connectivity outside of the Internet. These services allow enterprises to interconnect directly with each other or with third parties in order to exchange traffic directly. This means that data doesn’t have to travel through multiple networks before reaching its destination, which reduces latency and increases performance. This is especially helpful when trying to connect from different access networks that are more or less interconnected. Ivo explains, “Today DE-CIX operates almost 40 different platforms on 4 different continents. In the US we have 5 different markets in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Richmond, and more to come. In Europe, the Middle East, Asia, India, etc. we have platforms. Why? Developed regions from the interconnection point of view needed to be upgraded infrastructure … Interconnection really needs to get deeper into the edge for one very simple reason, quality security performance in general, or a magic world of latency. Latency is extremely important nowadays. I love to say latency is our new currency.” 

Why interconnection must be democratized

So why should interconnection democratize? Ivo shares, “Because we have been doing this business for 27 years now and 24 years of those were entirely wholesale industry focused. Just a couple of years back, we started direct business relationships with enterprises, with car manufacturers, with banks, with retailers, with logistic companies. And, these guys, their business is not telecommunications wholesale. Their business is the business of their industry segment. They just want to use this type of infrastructure for security and performance reasons but they don’t need to be experts in wholesale telecommunication. So, we need to make it as easy as possible for them to enjoy the interconnection services. This is what I call the democratization of infrastructure, that every single type of business on this planet can use.” In full, it’s making these processes easy and accessible for customers, partners, and clients so that interconnection can be utilized by all parties. 

Predicting the future 

Taking a look into the future, Ivo and Matt touched upon what the world will look like in 5 years. The topic of conversation was the rapid acceleration of digital services for the internet of a new generation. “I see a world full of innovation, I see a world full of digital infrastructure and demand for digital infrastructure,” says Ivo Ivanov. Although the digital revolution will expand at an extremely fast rate, DE-CIX’s mandate is to develop as much digital infrastructure around the globe as possible and the company will work hard everyday to do so. 

Click to hear the full podcast on the Over the Edge podcast

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