Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) has connected its member Open Peering to a 10 Gigabit Ethernet per second public-peering service using photonic switching for the first time in Europe. Public peering is a means for internet service providers to send and receive traffic destined for one another's networks.

Previously, switching was exclusively based on electronic switches. With the new technology mirrors are used to send out bundles of light in all possible directions. Internet organisations can find their way between end-users even faster than before, AMX-IX claims.

CEO Jan Hoogenboom of Open Peering says he faces an explosive growth of traffic; with the availability of the new 10GE-service there is sufficient capacity to facilitate growth until late 2006. The 10GE connection in itself is not exceptional. LINX, the UK's main peering centre for ISPs, implemented 10 Gigabit Ethernet two years ago.

Based on its new technology, AMX-XS expects it will be the largest internet exchange in Europe in 2005 in terms of public peering traffic. ®

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