The Internet Society and MediaNama are gearing up for the Internet Society’s Peering Roadshow — India Edition in Delhi on June 6. The event will feature a workshop and a roundtable discussion on interconnection and peering.
Date: Friday, 6th June 2025
Time: 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Venue: The LaLit, New Delhi
Register here
Below is a curated reading list to help you get up to speed with the topics we intend to discuss during the workshop and roundtable:
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ISOC’s Learning Plan on Internet Exchanges (IXPs): [[more here]
Understanding interconnection and peering:
Table of Contents
- Internet Exchanges: Latest Trends and June 6 Update
- What are Internet Exchanges?
- Key Functions and Components of an IX
- The June 6 Update: Key Developments and Announcements
- The Benefits of Peering at an Internet Exchange
- Practical Tips for Effective Peering at an IX
- The Evolving Landscape of Internet Exchanges
- Case Studies: IX Success Stories
- First-Hand Experience: A Network Engineer’s Perspective
- The Role of Route Servers in Modern IXs
- IXs and DDoS Mitigation: An Increasingly Important Partnership
- Future Trends in Internet Exchange Development
- Policy Brief: Internet Exchange Points (IXPs)[[Read]
- All About Peering: What It Is, How It’s Done, and Why We Need It[[Read]
- Internet Exchanges in India: A Legal Anomaly[[Read]
- Key takeaways: What it’s like running an internet exchange in India [Read]
- What a community internet exchange is, and why IIFON is running one [Read]
- DE-CIX India SVP Sudhir Kunder on India’s Internet Exchange Ecosystem [Read]
TRAI’s thoughts on IX and CDN regulation:
- 2025: Lowdown — TRAI Proposes IXP Authorisation, Leaves CDNs Unregulated [Read]
- 2022: TRAI Recommendations on Regulatory Framework for Promoting Data Economy Through Establishment of Data Centres, Content Delivery Networks, and Interconnect Exchanges in India[[Read]
International Trends in Peering and Interconnection:
- In Net Neutrality Setback, South Korea Lays Service Quality At Content Providers’ Feet [Read]
- How bad policy led South Korea into a Net Neutrality nightmare [Read]
- Dispelling the myths surrounding Korea’s network fee arrangement: An interview with Professor KS Park [Read]
- Why Countries Should Not Mess With Interconnection Agreements [Read]
- When is Regulation of Peering or Usage Fees Warranted?[[Read]
- Internet Impact Brief: South Korea’s Interconnection Rules[[Read]
Developments in the peering ecosystem in India:
- Internet Exchange NIXI now peering with Google, Web Werks, CtrlS [Read]
- National Internet Exchange of India starts allowing content providers to peer [Read]
- Netflix begins directly peering with large Internet exchange in India [Read]
- Extreme IX, Amaravati IX Challenge Govt’s Misclassification of Internet Exchange Points [Read]
- How NIXI Getting an ISP License Impacts the Internet Exchange Point Regulation Debate [Read]
- Why CCI Dismissed Extreme IX’s Anti-Trust Complaint Against NIXI in India’s IXP Market [Read]
- Will Regulating Internet Exchanges Slow Down India’s Broadband Expansion? Extreme IXP Director Raunak Maheshwari weighs in [Read]
- The European Union’s proposal to get Big Tech to pay an interconnection fee threatens net neutrality. [Read]
- Content Delivery Networks Should Remain Unregulated, NASSCOM and IAMAI Tell TRAI [Read]
- Battle lines drawn for regulating Internet Exchange Points in India: Extreme and NIXI vs Vodafone Idea [Read]
- CDN Authorisation Will Impact Service Rollouts: Motion Pictures Association at TRAI Discussion [Read]
- Akamai to TRAI: Leave us out of Net Neutrality regulations [Read]
Our community partners for this event are the Internet Society, Delhi Chapter and Broadband India Forum (BIF).
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For You
Internet Exchanges: Latest Trends and June 6 Update
Internet Exchanges (IXs) are critical pieces of internet infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of internet traffic between different networks (Autonomous Systems or ASes). Understanding the current trends and recent updates, like those from June 6th, is essential for network operators, content providers, and anyone involved in the internet ecosystem. This article provides a comprehensive overview of IXs, recent developments, and their impact on the internet landscape.
What are Internet Exchanges?
At their core, Internet Exchanges enable networks too connect and exchange traffic directly, a process known as “peering.” Instead of routing traffic through intermediary networks, peering at an IX allows networks to send data directly to each other, reducing latency, lowering costs, and improving network performance. Think of it as a highway intersection where different roads (networks) connect directly rather of relying on a longer, more congested route.
- Peering: The fundamental process of directly exchanging traffic between networks.
- Autonomous Systems (ASes): Autonomous networks that have a single, clearly defined external routing policy.
- Latency Reduction: Minimizing delays in data transmission due to shorter paths.
- Cost Savings: lowering transit costs by avoiding reliance on upstream providers.
- Improved Performance: Faster and more reliable data transfer for end-users.
Key Functions and Components of an IX
IXs are more than just meeting points for networks. They involve specific hardware, software, and operational procedures to ensure efficient and reliable traffic exchange.
Switching Fabric: The central component that physically connects the participating networks. This is typically a high-speed Ethernet switch.
Route Servers: optional but highly beneficial components that facilitate BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) route exchange between members. They simplify peering arrangements and reduce the need for bilateral peering agreements between every pair of networks.
Peering LAN: A shared network segment where members connect their routers and exchange traffic.
Management Infrastructure: Systems for monitoring, managing, and troubleshooting the IX infrastructure.
Policies and Procedures: Guidelines and rules governing membership, traffic exchange, and acceptable use of the IX.
The June 6 Update: Key Developments and Announcements
The “June 6 Update” could refer to a variety of announcements, depending on the specific context and IX being referenced. However, some common themes and relevant updates within the IX world often include:
- New Member announcements: IXs regularly announce new members joining their exchange, which signifies growth and increased connectivity options for existing members.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: IXs are constantly upgrading their switching fabric and other infrastructure to handle increasing traffic volumes and support higher bandwidth requirements.These upgrades frequently enough involve migrating to faster Ethernet speeds (e.g., 100G, 400G, or even 800G ports).
- New Services: IXs sometiems introduce new services,such as DDoS mitigation,route collectors,or looking glasses,to enhance the value proposition for their members.
- Policy Changes: Modifications to membership agreements, peering policies, or technical requirements.
- Community Events: Announcements related to upcoming meetings, conferences, or webinars relevant to the peering community.
To provide a more specific analysis of a “June 6 Update,” it’s crucial to know which IX is being referenced. Though,we can explore some hypothetical scenarios based on typical IX activities. Let’s imagine some news from a fictional IX called “Global Exchange Point (GXP).”
hypothetical June 6 Update from Global Exchange Point (GXP):
New members: GXP announced that three new networks have joined the exchange: cdnpro (a content delivery network), CloudScale (a cloud provider), and EduNet (a research and education network).
Infrastructure Upgrade: GXP completed the upgrade of its core switching fabric to support 400G Ethernet,providing increased capacity and lower latency for its members.
DDoS Mitigation Service: GXP launched a new DDoS mitigation service in partnership with a leading security vendor,offering members enhanced protection against distributed denial-of-service attacks.
The Benefits of Peering at an Internet Exchange
Peering at an IX offers numerous advantages for participating networks:
- Reduced Latency: Direct traffic exchange minimizes hops and reduces latency, resulting in faster response times and improved user experience.
- Lower Transit Costs: By exchanging traffic directly, networks can reduce their reliance on paid transit from upstream providers, leading to significant cost savings.
- Increased Bandwidth: Peering allows networks to exchange large volumes of traffic without incurring transit charges, enabling them to support higher bandwidth applications and services.
- Improved Network Resilience: Diversifying network paths and reducing reliance on single upstream providers enhances network resilience and reduces the risk of outages.
- Enhanced Control: Networks have greater control over their traffic routing and can optimize paths for specific destinations.
- Community Building: IXs foster a sense of community among network operators, providing opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Practical Tips for Effective Peering at an IX
Joining an IX is just the first step. To maximize the benefits of peering, networks need to adopt effective peering strategies and best practices:
- Develop a Peering Policy: Clearly define your network’s peering criteria, including traffic volume, network size, and geographic reach.
- Monitor Traffic Patterns: Analyze your network’s traffic patterns to identify potential peering opportunities with networks that exchange significant amounts of traffic with you.
- establish Bilateral Peering Agreements: Negotiate peering agreements with networks that meet your peering criteria. While route servers simplify route distribution, bilateral agreements formalize the relationship and can specify peering terms.
- Maintain Up-to-Date Routing Information: Ensure that your routing information is accurate and up-to-date to facilitate efficient traffic exchange.
- Monitor Peering Performance: Continuously monitor the performance of your peering connections to identify and resolve any issues.
- Participate in the IX Community: attend IX meetings, engage in discussions, and share your experiences with other members.
The Evolving Landscape of Internet Exchanges
The IX landscape is constantly evolving, driven by factors such as increasing internet traffic, the growth of cloud computing, and the emergence of new technologies.
Growth in Traffic Volumes: ixs are experiencing exponential growth in traffic volumes, driven by the increasing popularity of streaming video, cloud services, and other bandwidth-intensive applications.
Migration to Higher Speeds: IXs are upgrading their infrastructure to support higher Ethernet speeds (e.g., 400G, 800G) to accommodate the growing traffic demands.
Cloud Interconnect: IXs are playing an increasingly critically important role in facilitating cloud interconnect, enabling networks to connect directly to cloud providers.
Distributed IXs: The rise of distributed IXs, which consist of multiple geographically dispersed locations, is enabling networks to peer closer to their users, further reducing latency and improving performance.
Automation and Orchestration: IXs are increasingly adopting automation and orchestration tools to streamline operations and automate peering processes.
Case Studies: IX Success Stories
Let’s examine a couple of hypothetical case studies to illustrate the benefits of peering at an IX:
Case Study 1: Regional ISP Improves Customer Experience
A regional ISP, “LocalNet,” was experiencing high latency and transit costs when delivering content to its customers. By joining a local IX, LocalNet was able to peer directly with several content providers, substantially reducing latency and improving the streaming video experience for its subscribers.The cost savings on transit also allowed LocalNet to invest in network upgrades and expand its service offerings.
Case Study 2: Content Delivery Network (CDN) Enhances Performance and Reduces Costs
A CDN provider, “GlobalCDN,” was seeking to improve its performance and reduce its transit costs in a specific region. By establishing a presence at a major IX in that region,GlobalCDN was able to peer with numerous ISPs and other content providers,significantly reducing latency and improving the delivery of its content to end-users.The cost savings on transit also improved GlobalCDN’s overall profitability.
First-Hand Experience: A Network Engineer’s Perspective
As a network engineer with experience in managing peering relationships, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact that IXs can have on network performance and economics. Successfully navigating the world of peering requires a combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and effective communication skills.
One of the biggest challenges is identifying suitable peering partners. It’s not just about exchanging traffic; it’s about finding networks that have complementary traffic patterns and a shared commitment to improving the overall internet ecosystem. Tools like peering databases and traffic analysis platforms can be invaluable in this process.
Another crucial aspect is maintaining strong relationships with your peering partners. Regular communication, proactive troubleshooting, and a willingness to collaborate are essential for ensuring a smooth and mutually beneficial peering relationship. IX community events provide excellent opportunities to network with other engineers and build these relationships.
The Role of Route Servers in Modern IXs
Route servers have become a cornerstone of modern IXs, simplifying peering arrangements and reducing the complexity of BGP configuration. Without route servers, each network would need to establish individual BGP sessions with every other network it wants to peer with – a cumbersome and time-consuming process.
Route servers act as a central point for route exchange. Networks establish a single BGP session with the route server, and the route server distributes routes to all other connected networks. This simplifies routing configuration and reduces the number of BGP sessions that each network needs to maintain. However, it’s important to remember that a route server does
not forward traffic; it only helps with route distribution.The use of route servers allows for more dynamic and scalable peering arrangements. Networks can easily add or remove peering relationships without having to reconfigure their BGP settings.This is especially beneficial for smaller networks that may not have the resources to manage complex BGP configurations.
IXs and DDoS Mitigation: An Increasingly Important Partnership
Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks have become an increasingly prevalent threat to online services. IXs are playing a vital role in mitigating these attacks by providing a platform for collaboration and the deployment of DDoS mitigation technologies.
Many IXs offer DDoS mitigation services to their members, often in partnership with specialized security vendors. These services typically involve detecting and filtering malicious traffic before it reaches the target network. By filtering traffic at the IX level, it is possible to mitigate attacks more effectively and prevent them from impacting other networks.
The collaborative nature of IXs also allows for faster response times in the event of a DDoS attack. Members can share information about attack patterns and coordinate their mitigation efforts, improving the overall resilience of the internet ecosystem.
Future Trends in Internet Exchange Development
The future of Internet Exchanges is likely to be shaped by several key trends:
Increased Automation: The growing complexity of network management is driving increased adoption of automation technologies in IX operations. This includes automating peering configuration, traffic monitoring, and troubleshooting.
Software-Defined Networking (SDN): SDN technologies are enabling more flexible and programmable IX infrastructure, allowing for dynamic allocation of resources and improved traffic engineering.
Network Function Virtualization (NFV): NFV is enabling IXs to offer a wider range of value-added services,such as firewalls,load balancers,and DDoS mitigation,as virtualized network functions.
Edge Computing: The rise of edge computing is driving the deployment of IXs closer to end-users, further reducing latency and improving the performance of latency-sensitive applications.
Quantum Computing: quantum computing could revolutionize network security strategies at Internet Exchanges, introducing new encryption and decryption methods that are resistant to traditional cyber threats.
| IX benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Lower Latency | Direct traffic exchange reduces delays. |
| Cost Savings | Reduces reliance on expensive transit. |
| Increased bandwidth | Handles large traffic volumes efficiently. |
| Improved Resilience | Diversifies network paths. |
| Peering Tip | explanation |
|---|---|
| Define Peering Policy | Establish clear criteria for peering relationships. |
| Monitor Traffic | Identify potential peering partners based on traffic analysis. |
| Maintain Relationships | Communicate and collaborate with peering partners. |
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