Internet Exchange Peering at France-IX
Direct BGP peering with 450+ networks at France-IX Paris. Port fees from 1 Gbps to 100 Gbps, no per-Mbps transit charges.
Virtuasys operates a direct cross-connect to France-IX Paris: your traffic reaches 450+ peer networks over layer 2, no transit hop.
Quick Summary
Direct peering at major European IXPs for optimized traffic exchange and reduced latency.
- Location
- European IXPs
- Latency
- < 2ms
- Cost Model
- Pay-per-port
- Peering
- 1000+ ASNs
Internet Exchange vs IP Transit - Complete Comparison
Port fees only, no per-Mbps billing: IX peering typically cuts connectivity cost 40-70% versus transit for traffic that peers directly.
| Aspect | Internet Exchange (IX) | IP Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Direct peering fabric | Upstream connectivity |
| Cost Model | Port fee only (fixed monthly) | Traffic-based billing (per Mbps) |
| Latency | 1-3ms typical (direct path) | 5-15ms or more (multi-hop) |
| Path Control | Direct BGP control with peers | Provider's routing decisions |
| Scalability | Hundreds of peers available | Single/few upstreams |
| Redundancy | Multiple peers (diverse paths) | Provider-dependent |
| Setup Complexity | Multiple BGP sessions to manage | Single session per provider |
| Best For | CDNs, ISPs, large enterprises | Smaller networks, backup connectivity |
Why Direct Peering
- 1-3ms typical peer-to-peer latency, versus 5-15ms or more over transit.
- Port fees are flat-rate: full capacity, no per-Mbps or 95th-percentile billing.
- Multiple peers give diverse paths: one peer failure does not take down your routing.
Our IX and Peering Presence
Direct cross-connects at four exchange points, mirroring our BGP peering footprint.
This Is For You If
- Traffic volume above 1 Gbps sustained: economics favor IX at this scale
- You serve a local or regional audience with direct paths to local users and content
- You want to eliminate per-Mbps transit charges for peered traffic
- Low latency matters: gaming, video streaming, real-time applications
- You want direct peering with content providers such as Google, Netflix, or CDNs
- You run a multi-homed network and want redundant upstream paths
Below 500 Mbps sustained, transit is usually simpler and cheaper. Most networks end up running both: IX for peered traffic, transit for everything else.
Getting Connected
IX setup means an ASN, a cross-connect at the exchange, and BGP sessions with peers or the route server. We handle the coordination end to end. BGP peering setup and PeeringDB profile.
Virtuasys Internet Exchange Connectivity
Simplified IX access with complete technical management
At Virtuasys, we simplify IX connectivity by handling all technical coordination and providing turnkey peering solutions.
- Direct IX Access
- Connected to France-IX Paris with pre-established cross-connects and layer 2 fabric access. Your traffic reaches 450+ peer networks directly.
- Simplified Setup
- We handle IX coordination, cross-connect installation, IP assignment, and route server configuration. You receive production-ready BGP connectivity.
- Turnkey Peering
- BGP configuration included with session templates for common platforms (Cisco, Juniper, Arista). Pre-configured route filters and communities.
- Expert Support
- 24/7 network engineering team with 15+ years IX operations experience. Troubleshooting, optimization, and peering coordination assistance.
Optional Add-Ons
- Route Server Access: Multilateral peering with 100+ networks via single BGP session
- Remote Peering: Connect to France-IX from your existing datacenter via layer 2 extension
- Managed BGP: We configure and maintain all peering sessions on your behalf
Our Differentiators
- Pre-established sessions with major content providers (Google, Netflix, Meta, OVH, Cloudflare)
- Optimized for French/European traffic: France-IX covers 60%+ of French internet users
- Pairs with our enterprise fiber connectivity for a complete end-to-end solution
- Integrated DDoS protection at IX layer: attacks mitigated before reaching your network
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Internet Exchange connectivity
Yes, an Autonomous System Number (ASN) is required for IX peering because BGP routing depends on unique AS identification. IXs do not support NAT or proxy peering. If you don't have an ASN, we offer ASN registration services through RIPE NCC (Europe) or ARIN (North America). Via RIPE NCC, delivery takes 2-5 working days. Note: ASN registration requires justification (typically: multi-homing or unique routing policy).
Typical timeline: 2-4 weeks from contract signing to production BGP sessions. Breakdown: Week 1: IX membership approval, IP assignment, cross-connect order. Week 2: Cross-connect installation (physical fiber between your router and IX switch). Week 3-4: BGP configuration, route server connection, bilateral peer coordination. Expedited setup possible in 1-2 weeks if infrastructure already in place (existing colocation, pre-configured router). Delays usually from cross-connect installation scheduling: datacenter fiber techs may have 1-2 week lead times.
Most IXs operate on bilateral peering model: you establish sessions with willing peers (requires mutual agreement). Route servers provide multilateral peering: connect to route server and automatically peer with 100+ networks that participate. However, not all IX members use route servers. For content providers (Google, Netflix, etc.), you typically need bilateral sessions established via email coordination. IX member directories (PeeringDB) list contact information and peering policies. Expect 50-80% of peers to accept open peering requests.
Generally 500 Mbps - 1 Gbps sustained traffic makes IX economically viable. Below 500 Mbps, transit is often more cost-effective due to fixed IX port fees. At 1 Gbps sustained (720 TB/month), IX and transit costs are roughly equal. Above 1 Gbps, IX becomes increasingly cost-effective: savings scale with traffic volume. Non-economic reasons to use IX below 1 Gbps: latency requirements (gaming, video), direct content provider access, network architecture (multi-homing).
BGP-capable router with sufficient port capacity and processing power for full internet routing table (900,000+ routes as of 2025). Recommended platforms: Cisco ASR 9000/1000 series, Juniper MX series, Arista 7xxx series, Nokia (Alcatel-Lucent) 7xxx series. Minimum specifications: 4GB RAM, hardware-based forwarding, 1G/10G/100G interface matching IX port speed. We provide router recommendations based on your traffic volume and growth projections.
IX and transit work together via BGP routing policies. Typical configuration: prefer IX paths (lower local preference/AS path prepending) for networks reachable via peering, fall back to transit for all other destinations. Traffic flow: 60-80% via IX (content providers, local ISPs, CDNs), 20-40% via transit (global reach, non-peered networks). BGP communities control traffic engineering: tag routes to prefer/avoid specific paths. Best practice: maintain 2+ transit providers for redundancy even with extensive IX peering. IX provides cost optimization; transit ensures full internet reachability.
Get Expert Guidance on Internet Exchange Connectivity
Internet Exchange connectivity requires careful planning and technical expertise. Our network engineering team has 15+ years of experience with IX operations and can design the optimal peering strategy for your network.
Related Services
- BGP Peering StrategiesMaster BGP peering strategies for IX connections including route filters, communities, and traffic engineering
- Tier 1 ConnectivityDirect connectivity to Tier 1 carriers with settlement-free peering and global reach
- IP Transit ServicesCompare IX peering with traditional IP transit services for complete connectivity architecture