Growth in traffic and the number of members connected to GigaPIX leads to increased interconnection capacity of the various technical rooms at the Internet Exchange Point (IXP) provided by the FCCN Unit.
The end of 2020 saw an increase in GigaPIX capacity, with an increase in the interconnection capacity of the various technical rooms. In November and December 2020, the two rooms on Av. do Brasil are now connected to 100Gbbps, there is also an increase in capacity with Additional 100G in the interconnection between one of the technical rooms on Av. do Brasil and Equinix (Prior Velho). Equipment was also replaced at LAN2 on Av. do Brasil, which now allows new members to connect to 100G on this network.
This capacity increase, initially planned for 2021, is due to the growth in the use of GigaPIX. As a traffic exchange point, this Internet Exchange Point (IXP) provided by the FCCN Unit, has seen its use increase since its creation, with an average annual sustained growth of 36%. 2020 reinforced these numbers, with an increase of 49%, in December 2020, compared to the same period, for example.
There are several reasons that justify this growth, namely the greater number of people working remotely, the increased use of the Internet for online shopping or the greater consumption of content. streaming. On the other hand, during the year 2020, there was a 100% increase in the number of members connected to GigaPIX at Equinix.
In 2021, this capacity-building work is expected to continue, strengthening the interconnections between the various data centers. In that regard, a fiber ring will be created using dedicated transmission equipment capable of multiple circuits at 100G. This structure will have the capacity to, in the future, support interfaces for higher speeds, safeguarding GigaPIX's growth needs for the coming years.
What is GigaPIX?
While Internet Exchange Point An Internet Service Provider (IXP) provided by the FCCN Unit, GigaPIX is a service that connects multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to content delivery networks (CDNs), exchanging traffic between them, reducing delays, and providing a better internet user experience. This also significantly reduces costs by avoiding the use of more expensive international connections. GigaPIX operates in Lisbon with three technical facilities, two on Av. do Brasil and a third (Equinix) in Prior Velho. It also has a presence in Porto. GigaPIX is the oldest IXP and has the largest number of members in Portugal.
To learn more about GigaPIX, visit: https://www.fccn.pt/institucional/gigapix/
