Enrique Ortegon
In today’s interconnected world, the efficiency and speed of data transfer are crucial. Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) play a fundamental role in this process, facilitating connectivity between different networks and improving Internet performance. At MDC Data Centers, we understand the importance of IXPs and how they can transform digital infrastructure.
What is an Internet Exchange?
An Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is a physical infrastructure that allows different networks to exchange Internet traffic directly with each other. These networks include Internet Service Providers (ISPs), content providers, cloud services, and gaming platforms, among other key players in the telecom industry.
- Internet Service Providers (ISPs): Companies that provide Internet access to end-users, whether residential or commercial.
- Content Providers: Companies that generate and distribute digital content, such as websites, online video platforms, and streaming services.
- Companies: Organizations that require robust and reliable connectivity for their daily operations, including large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Cloud Service Providers: such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. These providers need to exchange large volumes of data efficiently and securely.
- Gaming Platforms: Companies in the video game industry, including developers and distribution platforms, that require low latency and high speed to offer an optimal user experience. Examples include Steam, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network.
By allowing these diverse actors to connect directly with each other at a central point, an IXP facilitates a more direct and efficient route for data traffic, reducing latency and improving data transfer speed.
Peer with all Mexican networks and content providers directly on the border
Download the MEX-IX brochureEvolution of IXPs Worldwide
In the last decade, IXPs have experienced significant growth both globally and regionally. Ten years ago, there were significantly fewer IXPs in operation. For example, in Europe, the number of operational IXPs increased by 87.5% over the past 10 years, from 136 in 2010 to 255 in 2020 (TOP-IX). This growth reflects a global trend where more regions recognize the importance of having local IXPs to improve Internet efficiency and connectivity.
This growth has also translated into an increase in the traffic handled by these exchange points. IXP platforms have facilitated a greater number of peering sessions, thereby improving service quality by reducing latency and increasing redundancy. This development has been crucial to meeting the growing demand for online content, gaming applications, and cloud services, benefiting both end-users and businesses that rely on reliable connectivity.
Importance of IXPs
IXPs are essential for improving the performance and efficiency of networks. By providing a central point where networks can exchange traffic directly, they reduce the need for long and costly routes through multiple intermediary networks. This not only improves speed and connection quality for end-users (or “eyeballs”) but also allows networks to better manage their traffic and reduce operational costs.
Moreover, the evolution and growth of IXPs have allowed greater inclusion of various actors in the Internet ecosystem, promoting an environment of innovation and collaboration. IXPs facilitate interconnection between content providers, cloud services, and gaming platforms, ensuring that content reaches users with the least latency possible.
In the world of e-sports and competitive games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Warzone, high-quality connectivity is essential. Players require minimal latency and stable connections to compete effectively at a professional level. In Mexico and Latin America, the growing popularity of e-sports has underscored the need to improve Internet infrastructure to support these events. IXPs, such as MEX-IX, play a crucial role in this context, providing the high-speed, low-latency connections necessary for the success of esports in the region.
MEX-IX: A Success Story
In 2018, MDC Data Centers launched MEX-IX with the first Internet Exchange located in McAllen, Texas, and later in 2023 expanded the MEX-IX platform to El Paso, Texas. These initiatives have been developed in collaboration with industry expert partners such as Asteroid, LAC-IX, and SOCIUM, and have been designed to improve connectivity and Internet services between the United States and Mexico.
Currently, MEX-IX in McAllen has over 15 participants, including key players such as Bestel, Totalplay, Twitch, Akamai, among others. These content providers help ensure that traffic is handled efficiently and with the least possible latency for end-users.
MEX-IX El Paso: The first internet exchange built in a neutral ecosystem
Learn more about MEX-IXEl Paso: A Strategic Market
El Paso has been chosen as a strategic location for the expansion of MDC’s MEX-IX platform due to its important role as one of the largest border cities. The city offers efficient routes to the north, including key destinations such as Dallas and Los Angeles, and concentrates networks covering northern and northwestern Mexico. This location allows MEX-IX to provide improved connectivity and reduced latency for the Mexican market.
El Paso is a vibrant and growing city that acts as a bridge between the United States and Mexico. With a population of approximately 2.5 million people in the metropolitan area encompassing El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, and with a diverse economy that includes industries such as commerce, manufacturing, and education, El Paso is a crucial hub of activity in the border region. The city hosts major companies and serves as a meeting point for cross-border trade, making it an ideal location for an Internet Exchange seeking to improve connectivity and network performance on both sides of the border.
In addition to its strategic geographical location, El Paso has robust infrastructure and a growing innovation ecosystem, with numerous initiatives and programs supporting technological and business development. The city also has a strong academic presence, with educational institutions closely collaborating with industry to foster research and development in information and communication technologies.
Innovation and Collaboration
Our BorderConnect Platform™ and collaboration with organizations such as LACNIC, Internet Society, and SOCIUM have been crucial to the success of our IXPs. SOCIUM, in particular, is a key player in the development of Internet and IX platforms in Latin America and the Caribbean, and is currently the IX Manager provider for MEX-IX, ensuring expert support for our operations.
IXPs are a key component of modern digital infrastructure development. At MDC Data Centers, we are committed to facilitating these exchanges and promoting a more connected and efficient Internet ecosystem. MEX-IX is a clear example of how we are working to improve connectivity and foster innovation at the US-Mexico border.
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