LINX Offers Internet Connection Service

LONDON -- London Internet Exchange (LINX), Europe’s largest Internet exchange point, has launched what could become the world’s biggest data transmission community.

LINX members with facilities in 40 countries throughout the northern hemisphere are offering other, mostly smaller, Internet services providers(ISPs) dedicated routes into the LINX exchange in London. This will allow them to exchange data – known as peering – with other ISPs and will give them access to more than 50 per cent of world Internet networks.

The deal offers massive economies of scale for smaller ISPs that cannot afford their own dedicated switches on the LINX exchange and the technical staff to maintain them. Now they can have a ‘major player’ presence on the world Internet map at a fraction of the cost.

LINX chief executive John Souter explained: “This new service, called LINX from Anywhere, allows smaller ISPs to gain access to the LINX network by ‘piggy-backing’ on the routes of existing LINX members. They have control over their own dedicated Ethernet port and individual IP address into the LINX exchange, gaining operational and cost advantages.

“While our ISP members are commercial competitors, LINX’s mutual, not-for-profit status allows them to co-operate in this way for the benefit of their customers. LINX from Anywhere means that smaller ISPs can become LINX members without incurring the expense of installing their own hardware at one of our eight London colocation facilities.”

The London Internet Exchange Ltd. (LINX)