DE-CIX, the world’s leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator, celebrates its tenth anniversary in New York. Since its foundation in 2014, DE-CIX New York has become the largest IX in the city, the northeast of the United States, and the largest neutral IX on the east coast.
A Decade of Growth and Achievements
The history of DE-CIX New York began in 2012 when the German company decided to expand internationally after the success of its first IX outside of Germany, the UAE-IX in Dubai. Frank Orlowski, Executive Vice President of DE-CIX, recalls how, despite initial challenges and resistance from the local market, the team persisted in their vision to create a leading IX in New York.
Overcoming Initial Challenges
The New York market in 2013 was highly fragmented, with several IX operators, but DE-CIX saw an opportunity to consolidate the market and provide superior service. Despite the initial cold reception from some local data center operators, DE-CIX pressed on with its plan.
Deployment and Expansion
With the support of Shay Flavin from Zayo, DE-CIX secured agreements for the necessary network and colocation to start operations. The initial deployment included key locations such as 60 Hudson, 111 8th Avenue, 325 Hudson, and 165 Halsey in Newark. The infrastructure was deployed quickly, and the exchange was up and running in 2014 with a few initial participants.
Growth and Leadership
Under the local leadership of Ed d’Agostino, DE-CIX New York grew rapidly. In 2018, the IX surpassed 200 connected networks and reached a peak traffic of one terabit per second in 2022. With the addition of new sites and partners, DE-CIX New York solidified its position as the number one player in the market.
Impact on the Industry and the Future
Today, DE-CIX New York is a prominent interconnection market with four major, robust IXs offering local peering. The company maintains a distributed and neutral approach, both from telecommunications operators and data centers, always ensuring to provide the best service to its customers.
The tenth anniversary of DE-CIX New York marks a decade of innovation and leadership in the interconnection sector. With a strong foundation and a clear vision for the future, DE-CIX continues to be a crucial pillar in New York’s digital infrastructure and beyond.
Source: DE-CIX.