Internet exchange (IX / IXP)

An internet exchange (IX or IXP) is a shared switching fabric where multiple networks interconnect to exchange traffic directly. The practice is called peering, and the participants include ISPs, content providers, CDNs, and enterprises. Instead of paying transit providers to carry traffic, members connect a port to the exchange (commonly 10G, 100G, or 400G) and peer with many networks at once, cutting cost and latency. Major exchanges like DE-CIX Frankfurt, AMS-IX, and LINX carry double-digit terabits per second at peak; Southeast Asian hubs include Equinix SG in Singapore and BKNIX in Bangkok. IXs are typically hosted in carrier-neutral data centers, and hosting an IX node significantly raises a facility's connectivity value. Peering can be public (via the shared fabric with route servers) or private (dedicated cross-connects between two networks).