DE-CIX to Support Connected Nation & Newby Ventures in Closing the Digital Divide in the US

DE-CIX, the world’s leading operator of Internet Exchanges (IXs), and Connected Nation Internet Exchange Points (CNIXP), a joint venture between nonprofit Connected Nation and Newby Ventures, are entering a strategic partnership for the establishment and operation of edge IXs in unserved and underserved markets across the US to significantly improve regional Internet performance. CNIXP’s objective is to build new carrier-neutral interconnection facilities in at least 125 regional hub communities in 43 states and 4 US territories with the primary support of public funding. The establishment of connectivity hubs—consisting of a neutral IXP facility and a robust, professionally operated and supported IX within the facility—has been demonstrated to provide significant economic advantages for cities and regions. An IX and its ecosystem of connected networks and data centers increase the speed and resilience of Internet connectivity by optimizing the routes for data transport and offering greater redundant data pathways. It also brings down the costs of connectivity and enables locally bound data to remain local, rather than needing to take long detours through distant hubs to reach its destination. Such local interconnection, in turn, fosters the growth of a local digital economy and encourages not only the attraction of new business to the community, but also enables the localization of content, clouds, and applications to serve residents and organizations through significantly lower latency connections.