1. November 1999 London Internet Exchange Keith Mitchell, Executive Chairman JPIX Meeting, July 2000

2. 1 LINX - History & Status Started October 1994 Neutral, not-for-profit Now largest exchange in Europe 4th or 5th In world 100+ ISP Members ‘World Class’ facility Model for other IXPs

3. 1 LINX Objectives Primary Objective  “To provide efficient interconnectivity for the UK Internet” Realise this by aiming to keep 100% of UK Internet traffic in the UK Secondary Objective  “To promote the interests of its members” Latter is only done on specific issues, where there is formal approval of strong consensus among members

4. 1 LINX Principles Neutral locations  Not owned by ISPs or telcos Neutral management  By association of members Neutral operation  By dedicated autonomous staff Should not compete with members’ services  No retail members, only ISPs Well-funded quality facilities and infrastructure

5. 1 Principles (continued) “Natural” national monopoly should be:  Not for profit  Efficient  Accountable Routing policy is purely a matter for members, though some constraints:  Members must peer with at least 1 other  Direct bilateral connections also permitted

6. 1 LINX Members Cumulative 1994 - 2000

7. Members by Country Total = 109 1

8. 1 Network Topology

9. Copper Patch Rack - THN

10. 1 Infrastructure Update (cont’d) Switch Migration:  Now completed  Summit48 removed replaced by BD - greater port density (eg: max 64 Gige ports)  Telehouse North is still full  members gradually moving kit out, recovering space  Still requirement to increase Port Density  PE/Alcatel no longer suitable, due to gig density and lack of hardware development  New Switches - more later

11. Telehouse North

12. 1 Gigabit Ethernet MAN First deployed:  inter-switch 98Q4  inter-site 99Q1 Available to members:  pilot 99Q4  service 00Q2 - 8 members  higher than forecast demand as members break the 100Mbps barrier Total LINX traffic peak ~2.5Gbps

13. 1 Initial LINX Locations From October 94 at Telehouse Rewarding relationship for both parties But around 1997, Telehouse mostly full  Also resilience concerns Went out to tender for second site  3 bids But winning bidder pulled out 

14. 1 Model Evolution Re-tendered Commissioned 2nd Primary site with winners Telecity in 1998 High quality of bids Major co-lo provider growth in London Docklands & City area Interest from 7 other CLPs Requirements from LINX Members Created ‘Expansion Site’ plan

15. 1 Thesis IXPs originally provided efficient, co-ordinated connectivity through co-operation between ISPs To evolve they must provide efficient, co-ordinated connectivity between CLFs & ISPs through co-operation between CLPs and ISPs

16. 1 The Alternative  Multiple commercially competing CLFs per metro area will each have own IXP Each ISP will need (either/both):  a presence at many CLFs  many private bi-lateral interconnects The latter do not scale well across either full or many buildings

17. 1 The Strategy Build an:  efficient  co-ordinated  neutral  not-for-profit dark fibre IXP between as many CLFs as possible

18. 1 The Strategy Make IXP connection a:  single location  cheap  simple  facility independent service option for all ISPs

19. 1 CoLo Technical Criteria Number of carriers with fibre into facility Size of facility Number of engineers, 24x7 operators Security measures Separate LINX cage located centrally Fire protection system Power: capacity, UPS, generators Air conditioning Verify by site visit

20. 1 Current Status Primary sites at:  Telehouse, TeleCity LINX purchased IRU on dark fibre to implement Gigabit MAN Q1 2000:  Redbus Interhouse  Telehouse Eastern extension Q2 2000:  Guardian DR, InterXion, IX Europe  equipment ready, waiting for fibre

21. 1 Conclusions Have learnt lessons:  Physical infrastructure build quite painless  Contractual/legal issues very time consuming  New entrants to colo market a little over optimistic  Need to build relationship and trust with & between many CLPs Each one gets easier

22. 1 The Future Developing 'Build your own exchange site' handbook Open to further Expansion Site bids Provisional approval from LINX members to work with CLFs:  outside London M25  not connected to existing sites

23. 1 Further Information http://www.linx.net info@linx.org +44 1733 207700 Fax 1733 353929