An Internet Exchange (IX, sometimes Internet Exchange Point, IXP) is a physical piece of equipment usually housed within a data centre, where companies such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), and other networks connect and exchange Internet traffic (data) with each other. IXs route traffic between its members’ networks, and this exchange of data is called peering.

The equipment, infrastructure and running costs of IXs is shared between its connected members through membership fees (and these membership fees are far less than it’d cost to send this data using IP Transit! – just one reason as to why networks peer!)

What does an Internet Exchange do?

A route that sends you across to another city and back again to visit your neighbour is not the quickest nor most efficient way to get there. When this happens in traffic routing, it’s referred to as ‘tromboning’ or ‘hairpinning’. For Internet traffic – it may not just be another city - it may even be another country - this causes delays, and no one likes delays; delays cause financial losses, bad quality connections, and may harm reputations.

Historically, all networks functioned like this in hub - and -spoke architecture. IXs remove this excessively long journey by exchanging traffic closer to the users (“peering”) which keeps traffic local and removes delay!

The IXaaS solution with NetIX

NetIX offers two highly flexible IXaaS solutions to suit different requirements depending on end goals; for existing IXPs we can help enhance and improve your exchange through our technical and commercial expertise, and for those wanting to start an exchange from scratch we’re able to help every step of the way.

Using our list of more than 60 individual IX elements, you can cherry-pick and design exactly how you want us to help you grow your Internet Exchange. From purchasing hardware to network configuration and monitoring tools, NetIX is there for you.