Peering & Internet Exchanges

Access thousands of networks with reduced latency, improved security, and greater control over your traffic

Understanding Peering & Internet Exchanges

Peering and Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) are the backbone of the Internet, enabling networks to exchange traffic directly rather than routing through third-party providers. Exchanging traffic via peering improves performance and gives you instant reach, redundancy, and network choice while reducing costs, improving latency, and enhancing security. It also provides you with greater network visibility and control over your network traffic.

Internet Exchange Points serve as neutral meeting grounds where multiple networks can interconnect efficiently. Through a single port connection, you can access thousands of networks, open up new markets, increase control and drive more business opportunities. This p2p connectivity eliminates the need for expensive transit routes, creating more direct and efficient paths for your data.

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Iron Mountain's peering & internet exchange solutions

Iron Mountain's data centers house some of the world's leading internet exchanges, including AMS-IX, LINX and DE-CIX, giving you access to premier global connectivity ecosystems. Our comprehensive peering solutions offer three distinct approaches to meet your specific connectivity needs.

Private peering

Allows you to connect directly via cross connects with more than 2,000+ Iron Mountain customers. It's quick and easy to set up private peering relationships with any partner in our extensive global ecosystem, providing greater capacity and control for your most critical connections.

Global exchanges

Housed in our facilities include the world's most significant internet exchanges. Access thousands of networks, open new markets, and drive increased traffic levels and business opportunities through a single connection point.

Internet exchange points

Can be accessed from dedicated ports within our Meet-Me-Rooms, via our Metro Wave services, Private Network Transport, or through one of our Software Defined Network (SDN) partners, including Megaport. This flexibility ensures you can reach major strategic internet exchange points regardless of your current infrastructure setup.

Key benefits

Include cost savings through traffic swapping with other customers and IX members at no additional cost, improved performance with reduced latency and enhanced security, streamlined ordering through our IMDC portal for easy and efficient request submission, and comprehensive reach to major internet exchange hubs worldwide.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between public and private peering?

Public peering occurs at Internet Exchange Points where multiple networks connect through a shared switching fabric, allowing any member to exchange traffic. Private peering involves direct connections between two networks, typically using cross connects, providing greater control and capacity for high-volume traffic exchange.

Which internet exchanges does Iron Mountain Data Centers work with?

Iron Mountain data centers house some of the world's leading internet exchanges, including AMS-IX, LINX, DE-CIX, NL-IX and NIXI. We also provide access to numerous regional and local exchanges through our global network of facilities and Metro Wave services.

What's the difference between IP transit and peering?

IP transit involves paying a provider to carry your traffic to destinations across the internet, while peering allows networks to exchange traffic directly without transit costs. With peering, you can swap traffic with other networks and IX members at no cost, reducing data transport expenses. Peering also provides better performance with reduced latency and gives you greater control over your network traffic routing compared to traditional IP transit.

What is network peering and how does it help my business?

Network peering is the direct interconnection between networks to exchange traffic without using third-party transit providers. Network peering reduces costs by eliminating transit fees, improves performance through shorter routing paths, and provides greater control over your traffic flow. Iron Mountain facilitates network peering through our global ecosystem of 2,000+ customers and world-class internet exchanges.

Can I access multiple internet exchanges from a single location?

Yes, many of our data centers provide access to multiple internet exchanges either directly housed on-site or accessible through our Metro Wave services. This allows you to diversify your peering relationships and optimize traffic routing from a single location.

What technical requirements are needed for peering?

Requirements vary by exchange and peering type, but generally include BGP-speaking equipment, ASN (Autonomous System Number), sufficient port capacity, and meeting the technical requirements of the specific internet exchange. Our team can help assess your requirements and recommend appropriate solutions.