Global data traffic hits a new historical record

DE-CIXDE-CIX (Deutscher Commercial Internet Exchange) is an ent…, the world’s leading Internet Exchange operator (IX), has announced an unprecedented milestone in the volume of data traffic managed at its locations during 2024. More than 3,400 connected networks exchanged over 68 exabytes of data at DE-CIX locations worldwide, representing a 15% increase compared to the previous year, when 59 exabytes were recorded. Since 2020, global data traffic has more than doubled, rising from 32 exabytes to the current 68 exabytes. To put this figure into perspective, 68 exabytes is equivalent to the amount of data required to stream a high-definition soccer match that lasted 2 million years.

On November 20, 2024, global data throughput peaked at 24.92 terabits per second (Tbit/s), the highest of the year, coinciding with several video game releases and updates from various providers. At 8:00 PM CET that day, in a single second, the networks connected to DE-CIX IX exchanged a data volume equivalent to a stack of printed paper 20 times taller than Mount Everest. Over the course of a minute, 186.9 terabytes of data flowed through DE-CIX IXs around the world.

Internet-based applications drive growth

The increasing use of Internet and cloud-based applications has fueled the rise in data traffic at DE-CIX for years. While 32 exabytes of data were exchanged in 2020, this figure grew to 38 exabytes in 2021, 48 exabytes in 2022, and 59 exabytes in 2023. With the growth recorded in 2024, this represents a 113% increase in traffic through DE-CIX exchanges worldwide over the past five years.

The November peak coincided with a new record at DE-CIX Frankfurt: the traffic exchanged by nearly 1,100 networks connected locally, regionally, and globally reached a peak of 18.11 Tbit/s that day. DE-CIX Frankfurt is the largest Internet exchange in Europe, with over 45 exabytes of data traffic in 2024, representing a 13% increase compared to 2023. In 2025, DE-CIX will celebrate 30 years since the establishment of the company and DE-CIX Frankfurt, its first IX.

DE-CIX Internet exchanges keep the world connected

From video conferencing and streaming services to online gaming, there were significant differences in usage during the second half of 2024:

• Video conferencing experienced significant seasonal variations, with growth of up to 30% in the third quarter of 2024, following a summer slowdown. The level decreased slightly during the year-end holiday season.
• On-demand streaming service usage remained consistently high during the second half of the year, demonstrating how these services have become the norm for many viewers.
• Online gaming, which contributed the largest amount of traffic among the three categories examined, also remained consistently high in the third and fourth quarters of 2024, with a slight uptick during the holiday season.

“In this, our 30th anniversary at DE-CIX, we once again see the enormous importance of interconnection in driving the daily lives of millions of people. Whether for communication, entertainment, learning, health, data-driven products and applications, artificial intelligence, or the broadcasting of global sporting events, fast and secure connections at DE-CIX Internet exchange points are essential for our modern way of life,” says Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX. “Our Internet exchanges not only connect people and communities worldwide but also bring together individual businesses and entire economies to conduct trade.”

These peaks are reflected at individual DE-CIX locations around the world. For example:

• DE-CIX New York experienced over 4,348 petabytes (PB) of data flowing through the exchange throughout the year.
• DE-CIX Dallas recorded 2,630 PB.
• DE-CIX Madrid reached 2,575 PB.
• UAE-IX in Dubai managed 1,879 PB.

Regionally, DE-CIX North America saw over 7,000 PB, and Southern Europe over 3,500 PB.

DE-CIX offers its interconnection services at nearly 60 locations in Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. Accessible from data centers in over 600 cities worldwide, DE-CIX interconnects thousands of network operators, Internet service providers, content providers, and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries, offering peering, cloud, and various interconnection services. DE-CIX Frankfurt is the largest Internet exchange in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

via: DE-CIX