Carrier Ethernet exchange player CENX Inc. more than doubled its geographic footprint today by offering its services in four new locations -- London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Miami, and New Jersey.

The company, one of a small but hungry pack of Ethernet exchange players focused on customer acquisition, now has nine live exchange points, having previously opened its doors in Chicago (two exchanges), Los Angeles, and New York.

The London and Frankfurt exchanges come courtesy of CENX's partnership with data center operator Interxion , which will host further CENX expansion around Europe. (See CENX Takes Ethernet to Europe .)

CENX's president, Nan Chen, says the company is, on average, opening a new exchange every eight weeks, with locations being based on customer demand. He says CENX now has a customer list "in the high double digits" that includes "a few European operators," though Chen declined to identify any. (See CENX Adds Cable Cred , China Telecom Hooks to CENX, CENX Connects With Cable Player , XO Connects With CENX, Level 3 Teams With CENX, and Verizon Boosts Biz With CENX Connection.)

Chen says the main driver for demand from carrier customers is circuit completion, either for Ethernet services or IP VPNs. He also notes that service providers are seeing demand from their enterprise customers to connect branch offices to data centers, which, in turn, is fuelling demand for Ethernet exchange connections.

Of course, Carrier Ethernet service providers, after years of waiting for even one exchange, now have a number of providers they can hook up to. (See Neutral Tandem Adds Ethernet Exchange POPs, Neutral Tandem Touts Ethernet eXchange, Larger SPs Still Browsing Ethernet Exchanges, Telx Adds an Ethernet Exchange, Neutral Tandem Takes on Ethernet Peering, and Ethernet Europe: Equinix Opens Ethernet Exchange Doors .)

Is there room for even more players?

Chen thinks the main Carrier Ethernet exchange players have already shown their hands, although admits "there's a chance someone else might come out of the woodwork."Chen adds: "It's good there are multiple players trying to offer the same service. That's good for the market and keeps us sharp… it allows people to compare the different offerings, and I feel good about that too."

— Ray Le Maistre, International Managing Editor, Light Reading