The top 5 benefits of peering

The internet is a network of networks, and how and where those networks interconnect determines the efficacy of the service. How networks exchange traffic on the internet varies.

Broadly speaking there are three different approaches: A direct connection via a transit provider, a private interconnection between two networks, or peering at an internet exchange (IX) point - a co-location hub that enables members of the IX to interconnect.

In this blog we look at some of the main benefits of peering and how remote peering can deliver these benefits wherever you are.

What is peering?

When networks exchange traffic at an internet exchange point, the process is known as peering. Ordinarily, networks do so without any individual bilateral financial transaction because both ‘peering’ parties have something to gain from sharing with one another.

The number one reason for peering is so obvious that we’ll leave it out of our top five benefits. By peering, organisations aim to generate more revenue from whatever service they are providing. This can generate more revenue due the following benefits:

• Improved network performance
• Greater reach
• Operational simplicity
• Leveraging a community
• Reduced costs

Improved network performance

Peering enables greater network performance in a number of different areas. Data shared in a co-location site have shorter distances to travel, this offers the potential to boost connectivity speed and reduce latency.

It also helps to create a more stable, secure, environment. To ensure even greater speed, security and reliability networks can connect remotely to an IX of their choice using Console Connect which has its own high-performance global network.

Ultimately, all of these performance benefits result in an improved end user experience.

Greater reach

A typical large IX will connect several hundred IP networks from around the world. Many organisations will have a presence in several IXs around the world including the majority of the large web service companies.

There are also several hundred IXs around the world, and that number is growing all the time. By plugging into just one IX, a network could, in theory, reach any other point on the planet. Although having a point of presence in just one IX will result in latency and other performance issues.

The Console Connect Software Defined Interconnection platform can help extend your network reach and directly interconnect your business to multiple Internet Exchanges points worldwide. The platform is today accessible from over 800 data centre locations in over 50 countries worldwide.

Operational simplicity

Improving efficiency by harnessing simplicity is at the heart of peering.

IP networks define a peering policy when they join an IX, autonomous systems take care of the rest without the requirement to create and maintain connections between hundreds of other networks present.

Console Connect provides even greater levels of simplicity by enabling users to self-provision, monitor, and pay for their IX services and connectivity on-demand via a user friendly administration portal, which combines the costs of the dedicated layer 2 interconnection and remote peering at the IX.

Leveraging a community

Aside from the technical benefits of peering, being connected to an IX with hundreds of other businesses provides an opportunity for your business to network.

On a commercial level this creates opportunities to share, sell or buy services from co-located networks. On a social level it can also create opportunities for knowledge sharing among a community built around common interests.

Console Connect is also home to its own ecosystem of business partners - where you can explore, collaborate and interconnect - all via our own high-performance network.

Reduced costs

Arguably the most common but least cost effective method of acquiring internet connectivity is via an IP transit provider.

With peering, networks can share traffic without incurring any costs other than membership of the IX.

Remote peering goes one step further and also removes the need for costly infrastructure at the exchange point.

What is internet exchange as a service?

Console Connect’s Internet Exchange-as-a-Service (IXaaS) opens up opportunities for businesses to access leading IXs and remotely peer with partners around the world whenever they need to.

The solution is a more simple and cost effective way to remotely peer with multiple IX partners, without having to set up dedicated equipment at the exchange point and without having to enter into separate contracts with each IX.

To see which IX partners are already available on the platform, click here.