Frankfurt am Main, 13 September 2022: DE-CIX, the world’s leading operator of Internet Exchanges (IXs), today announces partnerships with four IX operators in Central and South-Eastern Europe, extending the reach of all IXs. DE-CIX has entered into agreements with BIX.BG in Sofia (Bulgaria), NIX.CZ in Prague (Czech Republic), Atman in Warsaw (Poland), and InterLAN-IX in Bucharest (Romania). The agreements enable each IX operator to offer their connected customers a cost-efficient and easy solution to interconnect their networks and digital resources across multiple locations within Europe. This move increases the attractiveness of what DE-CIX’s partner IXs can offer their respective customers. The partnerships enable them access to the world’s largest neutral interconnection ecosystem, including DE-CIX Frankfurt, one of the largest Internet Exchanges in the world. With this announcement, DE-CIX strengthens its availability in another four European countries, in addition to its strong existing presence in Central and Southern Europe.
“Enterprises are in search of simplified complete solutions that solve their network platform needs, looking for value, performance, security and geographical distribution. In Europe and beyond, neutrality is key to achieving broad coverage of interconnection services, as is integration, enabling a one-stop-shop approach with global relevance,” explains Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX. “Enterprises and networks of all kinds are beginning to understand that taking control of their interconnection needs by connecting to an IX offers them increased quality and resilience, as well as cost efficiencies. Well-integrated IX partnerships, like those we have entered into with BIX.BG, NIX.CZ, Atman, and InterLAN, are an excellent approach to achieve greater geographical reach and densification to serve the changing connectivity needs.”
One-stop-shop availability in a further four key markets
This latest expansion of DE-CIX brings its interconnection services to four complementary markets. Sofia, strategically located near the geographical center of the Balkans, has become an important interconnection hub linking Eastern Europe to the Middle East and Asia. The neutral Bulgarian IX BIX.BG has a presence in 10 data centers in Sofia and interconnects a great number of domestic, regional, and international Internet-related businesses. Prague, strategically located in the heart of the Central Europe, within a convenient distance from all European capitals, is home to NIX.CZ, the leading neutral IX in the Czech Republic. NIX.CZ, ranking among the top 20 largest IXs in Europe, connects over 200 local and international networks, ensuring the stable and reliable exchange of approximately two thirds of all data flow in the Czech Republic, as well as providing interconnection services in Austria and Slovakia. Warsaw has become one of the leading cities on the European data center market, with Poland’s own market forecast to triple in the coming years. As Poland’s data center leader and a B2B telco carrier, Atman specializes in dedicated ICT solutions, including the Thinx Internet Exchange. The comprehensive infrastructure of high availability enables Atman to provide IaaS and telecommunications services of critical significance. Bucharest is the center of the Romanian economy and industry, accounting for around 24% of the country’s GDP and about one-quarter of its industrial production. InterLAN-IX is the leading neutral Romanian interconnection platform and an important node in the southeastern peering ecosystem, with fifteen points of presence in nine cities, bringing together more than 200 domestic and foreign peering partners such as network operators, educational networks, content providers and enterprises.
Growing demands for cross-border interconnection services
This announcement extends the availability of the full set of DE-CIX interconnection services to further markets and offers the additional benefit of the bundled power of an integrated IX ecosystem in Central and South-Eastern Europe. It enables extended geographical reach for all participating IXs to provide to their connected customers, as well as lower-cost connectivity and ease of interconnection, in response to the growing demands for interconnection services. The partnerships allow for consistent quality and performance with streamlined service delivery and lower costs – all with a one-stop-shop solution: One contract, one bill, one point of contact, and yet greater geographical scope for each IX and their respective customers. Cross-border availability of high-quality interconnection services, such as direct and dedicated cloud connectivity and the secure interconnection of multiple business locations, multiple business partners, and remote teams, will further support digital transformation in Europe.