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 LANs 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 "down-stream" users of each network. 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.
Internet exchange points are common grounds of IP networking, allowing participant Internet service providers (ISPs) to exchange data destined for their respective networks. IXPs are generally located at places with preexisting connections to multiple distinct networks, i.e., datacenters, and operate physical infrastructure (switches) to connect their participants. Organizationally, most IXPs are each independent not-for-profit associations of their constituent participating networks. The primary alternative to IXPs is private peering, where ISPs directly connect their networks.
The Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) is an Internet exchange point based in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Established in the early 1990s, AMS-IX is a non-profit, neutral and independent peering point.
LyonIX is the Internet eXchange point (IXP) of Lyon. LyonIX is managed by Rezopole, the non-profit organization supported by the Métropole de Lyon and the Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes region.
DE-CIX is an operator of carrier- and data-center-neutral Internet Exchanges, with operations in Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. All DE-CIX activities and companies are brought together under the umbrella of the DE-CIX Group AG.
The Boston MXP was an Internet Exchange Point in Boston, Massachusetts and Quincy, Massachusetts. It was founded by MAI in 1996. It supports 10 megabit and 100 megabit connections on copper, and gigabit connections on fiber. Global NAPs, the main sponsor of the Boston MXP, was sold on February 29, 2012. The Boston MXP is no longer operational and was replaced by the Boston Internet Exchange.
The Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX) is an Internet exchange point in Seattle, USA. Its switch fabric is centered at the Westin Building and extended to KOMO Plaza, Sabey Intergate, and other locations. The SIX is one of the most successful examples of neutral and independent peering points, created as a free exchange point originally sponsored only by donations. The SIX is the most frequently cited model upon which other neutral Internet exchanges are based, and its financial and governance models are often cited as inspiration for other exchanges. It continues to run without any recurring charges to the participants and current major funding comes from one-time 10, 100, and 400 Gbit/s port fees, as well as from voluntary contributions from stakeholders. The SIX is a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt non-profit corporation.
NL-ix - formerly known as Neutral Internet Exchange - is an Internet Exchange in Europe, which is distributed across ninety-six datacenters in sixteen European cities in eight countries by year-end 2023. The exchange was founded in 2002 to serve as an alternative to the Amsterdam Internet Exchange. As of March 2024, the peak traffic is 8.61 Tbit/s and 630 members are connected. On March 4, 2011, it was announced that Dutch landline and mobile telecommunications company KPN had purchased and, subsequently, acquired the exchange.
IPTP Networks is an international telecommunications company. Founded in Cyprus as a System Integrator in 1996, it developed into an international group over the next decade. IPTP Networks operates a global backbone as a Tier-1-class-network Internet Service Provider (ISP) providing connectivity through 225+ PoPs worldwide.
Hurricane Electric is a global Internet service provider offering Internet transit, tools, and network applications, as well as data center colocation and hosting services at one location in San Jose, California and two locations in Fremont, California, where the company is based.
CoreSite, a subsidiary of American Tower, owns carrier-neutral data centers and provides colocation and peering services.
Network Access Point (NAP) of the Americas is a massive, six-story, 750,000 square foot data center and Internet exchange point in Miami, Florida, operated by Equinix. It is one of the world's largest data centers and among the 10 most interconnected data centers in the United States. It is located at 50 NE 9th Street in downtown Miami.
Manchester Network Access Point was a Manchester-based internet exchange point (IXP). The access point provides an exchange point for internet service providers and businesses in northern England and the Midlands and was the first Internet Exchange point in the UK outside London.
France-IX is a Paris-based Internet exchange point (IXP) founded in June 2010 as a membership organisation. As of 21 July 2021 it interconnects more than 496 members, making it the largest IXP in France.
Grenoble Internet eXchange or GrenoblIX is the Internet eXchange point (IXP) of Grenoble in Isère and Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes region. GrenoblIX allows to the connected members to exchange traffic in order to avoid routing through faraway infrastructures. This Internet eXchange point is managed by the non-profit organization Rezopole, founded in 2001.
Teraco Data Environments is a carrier-, cloud- and vendor-neutral data centre provider founded by Tim Parsonson and Lex van Wyk in 2008. On 1 August 2022, Digital Realty announced that it had completed the purchase of a majority stake in Teraco, previously controlled by Berkshire Partners, Permira and a group of investors.
DATAIX is an Internet exchange network between telecom operators and content generators in Europe and Asia. According to the Internet Exchange Report by Hurricane Electric Internet Services, DATAIX is one of the largest networks in the world by the number of participants. Its peak traffic, the size of which exceeds 5,3 Tbit/s. The headquarters of the company is located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
United States, Boston, Massachusetts, US