How Internet Exchange Points facilitate interconnection

From LINX Public Affairs

Front page (outside right)

"Facilitating Internet Interconnection and Peering" - (leaflet title, centre top)

(LINX logo, lower right)

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Transit

Transit is an interconnection arrangement whereby one network will route internet traffic from one network to the rest of the Internet, including itself. Transit implies a customer-supplier relationship between the two networks: it is the usual arrangement between corporate networks and service providers, and generally implies some form of settlement fee. Service providers may purchase multiple transit agreements with other service providers so as to enhance the capacity, speed, reach and resilience of their network.

Peering

Peering is an co-operative interconnection arragement whereby two networks will exchange traffic originating on their networks destined for the other (including traffic from and for their respective transit customers).

Peering agreements most commonly do not have a settlement fee, with each party bearing their own costs.

Traffic for third party networks is generally not passed over a peering connection, so a network needs many peers to substitute for transit traffic and most networks still purchase some transit too. Networks can peer most efficiently by joining an Internet Exchange Points, where there is little or no marginal cost for each additional peering connection.

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Internet Exchange Points (IXP)

An Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is a facility where physical interconnection between networks takes place, and enables the networks to exchange Internet traffic through peering and transit using a shared infrastructure.

IXPs can be commercial entities, and are sometimes owned by major network operators, but in Europe most IXPs are independent non-profit organisations mutually owned by the participating networks.

Internet Exchange Points enhance connectedness by making it cost effective to have large numbers of interconnections between networks, improving the capacity and resilience of networks and the responsiveness (latency) of user sessions. Neutral IXPs foster a spirit of co-operation and community amongst their member networks, which facilitates peering agreements as well as mutual support on matters of common interest such as protecting the security of critical infrastructure.

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Back Page (outside left

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) is one of the largest Internet Exhange Points in the world. Welcoming participating networks from across Europe as well as Asia, Africa and the Americas, LINX has nearly 200 member networks and carries nearly one sixth of the Internet traffic in Europe.

As a neutral, mutually owned and not-for-profit membership association LINX is well placed to represent the interests of the service provider community.

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