What Is Global Internet Exchange (GIX)?

The Internet's most prominent players meet secretly every day to exchange traffic. It's called GIX—the Global Internet Exchange (GIX). It's where all the cool kids hang out. GIX is an internet-traffic exchange point, where ISPs can meet up and swap information about their customers (and share a few laughs). It provides a low-cost, redundant, fail-safe route-based alternative to more expensive, transit-based links to high-tier ISPs. The network was founded in 1999 by some of the largest internet providers worldwide (including NTT Communications Corporation, Global Crossing Ltd., TELIA Company AB, Verizon Business Network Services LLC and Equinix Inc.) with one goal: to connect everyone with everyone else on Earth. The Internet is a complex hierarchal network that serves as a global base for ISP and client data exchange. ISP traffic is routed within other ISPs, according to client requests. Clients connect to Tier 3 ISPs, which use a direct link to Tier 2 ISPs, which provide interconnectivity between Tier 3 ISPs and traffic routing to the Tier-1 network (the Internet). It's like this: The client requests travel through multiple networks before reaching their destination. When you type www.google.com into your browser window, the request goes from your computer to your ISP (if there is one), then from that ISP straight up to Google's server farm in California. The request has been routed three times already! IXPs are the fastest way to get your message across. With GIX, you can reach them all. GIX is a network of IXPs that allows members to connect directly to each other through a single connection instead of going out and finding a different route. This means you can reach more people in less time, at a more low cost, and with fewer headaches. Whether you want to expand your social circle or a large company wanting to sell more products, GIX is the only way to go!