How DE-CIX is Expanding Networks with New Internet Exchange

Leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator, DE-CIX, has established its sixth US-based IX in Houston. 

It is offering 100G ports and low latency connectivity to more than 150 networks in neighbouring Dallas and beyond. The IX will also be housed in Databank’s Westway Park campus in Houston, accessible from HOU1, HOU2 and HOU3, in addition to the Galleria (HOU5) facility. 

The company’s Houston location is uniquely positioned to provide local networks with access to networks that are not currently available in the city. Its low latency connectivity to the vibrant ecosystem of DE-CIX Dallas. 

It also connects more than 150 networks, in addition to further national and international DE-CIX locations. 

A strategic networking hub

Houston has a strong economy, a large presence of content networks and more than 40 data centres, but remains the largest US city not to have an IX of substantial size relative to its market size. 

In response, DE-CIX and its IX infrastructure will launch with 100G ports and provide a range of services. These include remote peering to all DE-CIX locations in North America and Europe, direct connectivity to cloud service providers that are not present in Houston. 

This is in addition to the Microsoft Azure Peering Service for low-latency access to the MS365 cloud. 

With direct connectivity to DE-CIX Dallas and DE-CIX Mexico in due course, this move from the company is set to expand what is already one of the largest neutral interconnection ecosystems in North America.

The IX is also connected to all other DE-CIX locations in the US, including New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Richmond and the Cloud Exchange in Seattle. It forms the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem in North America.

“With our expansion into Houston, we continue to build on our commitment to bring seamless connectivity to underserved markets,” explains Ed d’Agostino, Vice President DE-CIX North America. 

“This move strengthens our market position in Texas and marks our sixth IX in the US, serving not only East Texas but also Southern Louisiana from a latency perspective. We are delighted to be working with our valued partner DataBank in Houston, as well as in New York and Dallas. 

“Partnerships of this kind are central to expanding interconnectivity options to other key geographical locations across the US, helping to reduce connectivity gaps.”

Improving local connectivity

DE-CIX Houston wants to establish a new interconnection corridor in the south of the US to provide seamless interconnectivity between Houston and Dallas. This is to enable local networks to access regional and international networks in Dallas in low latency. 

In addition to this, DE-CIX Houston has the potential to also establish a new gateway to and from Mexico.

“Our partnership with DE-CIX marks a pivotal step in delivering best-in-class interconnection services for our customers in Houston,” says Raul K. Martynek, DataBank CEO.

“By integrating DE-CIX’s high-performance Internet Exchange capabilities into our data centre ecosystem, we’re enhancing connectivity, reducing latency and providing our clients with seamless access to a global network of cloud and content providers.”

Accessible from data centres in more than 600 cities worldwide, DE-CIX interconnects thousands of network operators, or carriers, internet service providers (ISPs), content providers and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries. 

Raul adds: “This transition reflects our commitment to delivering innovative, scalable, and resilient solutions that meet the evolving needs of enterprises in the region and beyond.”

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