A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that interconnects users with computer resources in a geographic region of the size of a metropolitan area. The term MAN is applied to the interconnection of local area networks (LANs) in a city into a single larger network which may then also offer efficient connection to a wide area network. The term is also used to describe the interconnection of several local area networks in a metropolitan area through the use of point-to-point connections between them.
In computer networking, peering is a voluntary interconnection of administratively separate Internet networks for the purpose of exchanging traffic between the users of each network. The pure definition of peering is settlement-free, also known as "bill-and-keep," or "sender keeps all," meaning that neither party pays the other in association with the exchange of traffic; instead, each derives and retains revenue from its own customers.
An Internet exchange point is the physical infrastructure through which Internet service providers (ISPs) and content delivery networks (CDNs) exchange Internet traffic between their networks.
The Commercial Internet eXchange (CIX) was an early interexchange point that allowed the free exchange of TCP/IP traffic, including commercial traffic, between ISPs. It was an important initial effort toward creating the commercial Internet that we know today
BIRD is an open-source implementation for routing Internet Protocol packets on Unix-like operating systems. It was developed as a school project at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, and is distributed under the GNU General Public License.
Giganews, Inc is a Usenet/newsgroup service provider. Founded in 1994, Giganews service is available to individual users through a subscription model and as an outsourced service to internet service providers. Well-known ISPs that have outsourced Usenet access to Giganews include RCN Corporation, BT, WOW!, and Kingston Communications.
DE-CIX is a carrier- and data-center-neutral internet exchange point (IXP) situated in Frankfurt, Germany. It is the second largest exchange point worldwide in terms of peak traffic with a maximum throughput of more than 9.184 Tbit/s, only IX.br is larger. In addition to DE-CIX in Frankfurt, DE-CIX operates internet exchange points in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich (ALP-IX), New York City, Dallas, Dubai (UAE-IX), Palermo, Marseille, Istanbul, and Mumbai.
United Internet AG is a global Internet services company headquartered in Montabaur, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The company is structured in two business areas, Access and Applications, and has a total of 13 brands and numerous subsidiaries. It is the parent company of three major email providers and with the brand 1&1 and its 2.91 million DSL customer contracts, it owns the leading ISP in Germany. United Internet's web hosting and cloud computing business is operated by the 1&1 Ionos subsidiary.
IPTP Networks is a group of global Telecommunication companies and a trade mark of IPTP LLC, IPTP Limited, Fredonia Trading Limited, IPTP Networks, IPTP Ltd (Russia). Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the company is an Internet Service Provider, Systems Integrator and Software Development company that provides connectivity across Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
WORK-IX Internet Exchange Point situated in Hamburg (Germany).
RESTENA is the very high speed network for the education and research community of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Operational since 1989 and connected to the global Internet in 1992, the network is today deployed and operated by the RESTENA Foundation. Set up in 2000, the Foundation brings together all types of research and teaching bodies, as well as the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Finance. The Foundation also coordinates Internet resources nationally. It operates the domain name registry for the .lu domain, and participates actively in the operations of the Internet exchange point LU-CIX.
UAE-IX is a carrier- and data center-neutral internet exchange point (IXP) situated in Dubai (UAE). It interconnects global networks, network operators and content providers in the GCC region. Founded in 2012, UAE-IX is built on a fully redundant switching platform located in two data centers in Dubai, Datamena and Equinix. Initiated by the UAE’s Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) and fully managed by DE-CIX, UAE-IX delivers a local alternative for regional traffic exchange, localizing Internet content.
DE-CIX New York is a carrier and data center-neutral internet exchange point in the New York/New Jersey metro.
The Luxembourg Commercial Internet eXchange is a carrier and neutral internet exchange point (IX) located in Luxembourg.
DE-CIX Palermo, is a carrier and data center-neutral internet exchange point in Palermo, Italy, founded in 2015 by DE-CIX.
DE-CIX Marseille, is a carrier and data center-neutral internet exchange point in Marseille, France, founded in 2015 by DE-CIX.
France-IX is a Paris-based Internet exchange point (IXP) founded in June 2010 as a membership organisation. As of 1 August 2015 it interconnects more than 278 members, making it the largest IXP in France.
Mumbai Internet Exchange is a Mumbai-based Internet exchange point (IXP) founded in 15 August 2014 as Mumbai Convergence Hub is an Open Carrier Neutral Internet Exchange & Peering Hub. As of 30 January 2019 it interconnects more than 160 members, making it the largest IXP in India and surrounding region.
