Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2004/04/23/linx_anywhere/

LINX links smaller ISPs

'Piggy-back' onto the information superhighway

By John Leyden

Posted in Networks, 23rd April 2004 13:10 GMT

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) this week launched a service to allow smaller ISPs across the world easier access to Europe’s largest Internet exchange point.

The LINX from Anywhere services will allow such ISPs to exchange data – known as peering – with other ISPs far more efficiently. The service promises cost savings to operators that cannot afford their own dedicated switches on the LINX exchange and the technical staff to maintain them.

LINX chief executive John Souter explained: "This new service, called LINX from Anywhere, allows smaller ISPs to gain access to the LINX network by ‘piggy-backing’ on the routes of existing LINX members. They have control over their own dedicated Ethernet port and individual IP address into the LINX exchange, gaining operational and cost advantages.

“While our ISP members are commercial competitors, LINX’s mutual, not-for-profit status allows them to co-operate in this way for the benefit of their customers,” he added.

LINX’s membership of 140 ISPs and content delivery service providers includes almost all the major UK ISPs plus many from the USA, mainland Europe and the Far East. As a result, more than half the Internet routes are directly accessible from the LINX exchange. Around 90 per cent of all UK Internet traffic is routed through the LINX, with current peak volumes hitting 36 gigabits per second.

The following LINX members are offering LINX from Anywhere services from their facilities in 40 countries: Lambdanet, T-Systems North America, TeliaSonera, Tiscali, Versatel Telecom, FLAG Telecom, Telecomplete, Hotlinks Internet Services, Stealth Communications, Network Access Corporation and GX Networks UK.

The services is available to smaller ISPs from Europe (including Scandinavia and Eastern European countries such as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Russia and the Baltic States); Asia (Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Pakistan and India); the Middle East (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) and North America (Canada and the US).

Last week LINX announced a deal with telx, a large carrier-neutral interconnection facility in New York, to offer American ISPs an opportunity to establish a secure 'virtual presence' at LINX via a connection at telx. It also offers LINX members a facility to establish a point of presence in New York, using the trans-Atlantic connections of companies present at telx. ®

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