Internet exchange (IX / IXP)

An internet exchange (IX or IXP) is a shared switching fabric where multiple networks — ISPs, content providers, CDNs, and enterprises — interconnect to exchange traffic directly, a practice called peering. 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).