DE-CIX Boosts Ethernet Interconnection With Apollon Launch

The internet exchange DE-CIX is getting a big new Ethernet platform. Traffic growth at Europe’s internet exchanges has not tapered off, and DE-CIX is looking at a whole lot of data traffic to get ready for over the next few years. To meet those needs, they’re putting in place a next generation Ethernet interconnection platform called Apollon.

They’re using ADVA Optical’s FSP 3000 for the transport layer and 2Tbps per fiber pair, while the switching will be done by Alcatel-Lucent’s 7950 XRS and its 80x100GE port density.  The initial launch will cover Frankfurt by the end of 2013, with expansion to DE-CIX’s satellite markets coming later on.  Four supernodes will anchor the platform, fed by customer facing switches around the Frankfurt metro area.

That will enable DE-CIX to offer full 100GE on-ramps to its peering platform, with a full range of Ethernet interconnection capabilities.  That includes direct layer 2 capacity connections with other networks, rather than simple peering.  Nobody’s talking about Ethernet Exchanges directly anymore, but upgrades like this reflect the quiet integration of many of the same powerful capabilities into existing business models.

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Categories: Ethernet · Internet Traffic