We are going to explain and understand what an IXP is and how different it is from ISP. We shall use the Uganda Internet Exchange Point to understand this and how different players come in to provide internet to the entire country in this case. IXP and IXes all can refer to these points. Let’s decode their understanding and how they play a big role in the internet structure.
What is an Internet eXchange Point (IXP)?
Internet exchange points (IXes or IXPs) are common grounds of IP networking, allowing participant Internet service providers (ISPs) to exchange data destined for their respective networks. In short, it’s a physical and usually neutral location where different networks meet to exchange local traffic via a switch. According to the global IXP Database, as of January 2021, of the 630 registered Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), 229 are in Europe, 126 in North America, 140 in Asia-Pacific, 96 in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and 39 in Africa.
How IXPs work
At its center, an IXP is basically at least one actual area containing network switches that course traffic between the various individual organizations. Through different techniques, these organizations share the expenses of keeping up with the actual framework and related administrations. Web traffic trade between two members on an IXP is facilitated by Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) directing setups between them. IXPs are generally located at places with preexisting connections to multiple distinct networks, i.e., data centers, and operate physical infrastructure (switches) to connect their participants. Also Read: Bandwidth Vs Latency Vs Internet Speed
What is the Uganda IXP?
The UIXP is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 with the goal of improving Internet connectivity within Uganda and the East African region. You can reach the UIXP here to see the different nodes, ISPs, and web traffic throughout the country. Uganda’s peering infrastructure enables local networks, ISPs, and companies to directly interconnect and exchange data traffic at a common point. There are currently 32 nodes on UIXP with the likes of NITA-U, MTN, Gilat, Lyca, SEACOM, etc.
IXP Vs ISP
An ISP has the hardware and the media transmission line access required to have a point of presence on the internet for the geographic region served. ISPs make it workable for clients to get to the web while likewise offering extra types of assistance, for example, email, domain registration, and web hosting. An IXP is an actual and physical area through which Web foundation organizations, for example, ISPs and CDNs interface with one another. These areas exist on the “edge” of various networks or organizations and permit other network suppliers to share data movement outside their own organization. Also Read: 10 Internet Words You Should Know Today
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have learned what precisely an IXP is. We have also seen the seen primary contrast between IXP and an ISP in the same article in order to clear the confusion. If you have any comments please drop them below, otherwise happy internetting!