Two of the world’s largest exchanges facilitate true global peering.

Switch and Data and Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) announced the signing of a joint marketing agreement to enhance the peering opportunities of customers in both exchanges.

AMS-IX operates one of the largest Internet exchanges in Europe, and Switch and Data operates PAIX, North America’s largest commercial exchange. The joint marketing agreement will make it easier for customers with both companies to extend their peering into North America and Europe through a single point of contact.

Together, the two exchanges interconnect more than 350 unique networks of various scale regionally, nationally and internationally. These include Internet service providers (ISPs) and carriers as well as a number of content providers, hosting providers,VoIP operators and even mobile telecom operators.

The key benefit of this agreement between AMS-IX and Switch and Data is the density of peers available across two continents. There are PAIX facilities in eight markets in North America. At the same time, there are 24 global carriers available to provide transport services between the PAIX sites and Amsterdam with existing layer2 infrastructure peering – making the initial investment and time-to-market minimal.

“Both PAIX and AMS-IX are neutral and independent large exchanges assuring their respective participant bases of a convenient environment to find their peers,” states Job Witteman, CEO of AMS-IX. “This mutual program provides easy access to the renowned brand exchanges at either end of the ocean. We are happy to extend our partner base with Switch and Data and are sure it will further enable the peering flows between the U.S. and Europe.”

“This joint marketing agreement between Switch and Data and AMS-IX enables both companies to assist customers looking for an exchange outside of our respective markets,” states Keith Olsen, CEO of Switch and Data. “PAIX’s history and density of peers in North America complements AMS-IX strength as one of the largest exchanges in Europe – together offering customers worldwide the greatest opportunities to efficiently expand their peering opportunities.”

Market and customer growth is expanding, and we are meeting these demands with more space, more power and more resiliency. Switch and Data is significantly increasing our presence in four markets – New York City 60 Hudson,Toronto, Buffalo and Palo Alto, the world’s densest commercial exchange point.

Switch and Data will be quadrupling power and tripling space at its PAIX® facility in Palo Alto. The expansion and investments in Toronto, Buffalo and New York City 60 Hudson will double the company’s presence in these markets. Build-out of the managed infrastructure in Buffalo and Toronto is complete and customers are already taking advantage of the additional space and power. New York 60 Hudson will be completed in July. The Palo Alto site expansion is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2006.

Look for more updates in the coming months on these important investments in providing you with the infrastructure your business demands.

Switch and Data and Last Mile Connections (LMC) have created a strategic partnership to leverage Switch and Data’s interconnection density and managed infrastructure with Last Mile Connection’s bandwidth exchange and e-marketplace.

The partnership will commence in the next 30 days in three markets – New York, Atlanta and Miami – and then expand across additional major markets.

Switch and Data hosted Peering Forum VII: Fun and Games on May 18, 2005, in Seattle,WA.

The theme of “Fun and Games”was unique to any Peering Forum in the past and focused on the online gaming industry and the importance of peering in delivering gaming content. Peering Forum VII featured experts from XBOX Live, America Online, Shaw Cablesystems and more with topics of discussion including the network demands of online gaming, current and future trends in online gaming, partnerships and new developments for cable and online gaming, and the effects of European gaming on U.S. networks.

The event was well attended with nearly 100 peering coordinators, network architects, and others representing enterprise and service provider companies worldwide.

A post-event survey revealed that Peering Forum VII was a success. Of those surveys completed:

> 100% agreed the information presented was informative and insightful.  Some of them said:

“The overall quality of the presentations was very, very good.”
“Great talks on statistics and perspectives of various organizations on their peering motivations.”
“The peering panel was fantastic!”

> 100% agreed that they would attend a future Switch and Data Peering Forum

The Peering Forum is part of an ongoing series developed by Switch and Data that features educational sessions from experts on technical best practices and focuses on peering methodologies, strategies and tactics. This symposium consistently provides the most forward-thinking Internet experts, representing the largest businesses in the industry. Participants learn about peering and its challenges, network with peering coordinators from international companies and develop successful peering relationships.

Switch and Data completed the acquisition of Dallas-based LayerOne on January 7, 2005. As with any acquisition, seamless integration is the ultimate goal.

The acquisition expanded and strengthened Switch and Data’s presence of 35 sites in 23 North American markets with new sites in Dallas, Miami and Chicago. It also enhanced the company’s ability to extend its VoIP solutions, peering fabric and managed infrastructure to customers in key markets.

Within 60 days of the acquisition, all products and services have been successfully integrated into Switch and Data. At the same time, all ordering and billing processes are within Switch and Data’s standards.

Switch and Data also added quality people and customers in facilities located in key markets – enhancing the density of networks available to all of our customers in a major gateway to Latin America and its many service providers.

We’re pleased to announce a few of this month’s contract renewals and expansions!

> Looking Glass Network will expand into one of the company’s sites in New York, New York. As part of its ongoing expansion in key markets, Looking Glass Networks now provides lit transport and dark fiber services to Switch & Data locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Jose and Washington, D.C.

> Kanoodle, a provider of sponsored listings for search results and content pages, will expand its presence in the company’s Buffalo, New York colocation and interconnection site.

> Switch and Data will continue to provide colocation and interconnection services to OnFiber Communications, a leading metro network solutions provider.

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