Interview with COO Patrick Doyle on LDeX being the first UK datacentre operator to launch a transmission virtual point of presence at LDeX1 from the London Internet Exchange (LINX)

 

On the 25^th June, LDeX announced that it is working with the London Internet Exchange on becoming the first LINX transmission vPOP in the UK. This will enhance the connectivity offerings at the group’s LDeX1 datacentre in North London with a planned live date of Q3 of this year. As the world’s largest membership association for Internet Service Providers, we interviewed our Chief Operating Officer Patrick Doyle to get his thoughts on being the first datacentre provider to launch this type of virtual POP and find out what it will mean for both existing and prospective customers.

What are the key differences between three different types of LINX peering programmes?

Firstly, the LINX from Anywhere service (LfA) is not a commercial arrangement with LINX and any carrier who has got transport to LINX. The LfA programme can be provided to a member of the London Internet Exchange at no cost. The cost of connecting to LINX via LfA is borne by the member who enters into a commercial agreement with a carrier if backhaul is required.

The cost of connecting to LINX via a transmission vPoP is borne by the datacentre partner.

Finally, the cost of connecting to LINX via a branded virtual POP is borne by the member who enters into a commercial agreement with a carrier in the facility who can bring them to LINX.

As the first datacentre operator to launch a transmission vPOP from the London Internet Exchange (LINX), what does this mean for the datacentre/ISP community?

For those working in the datacentre community, it will mean that customers using the LDeX1 datacentre can peer on the LINX Juniper and Extreme peering LANs in a data centre which offers a more cost effective colocation model than the larger industry players where LINX typically exists.

As this is a transmission as opposed to a LfA or branded vPoP, it means that there are no backhaul costs passed on to the customer or extra charges when connecting to the LINX peering LAN, so the end user has the same experience and cost as being located in a LINX enabled POP. The only cost which the client needs to factor in is the standard LINX membership and port fees.

Bringing LINX to LDeX1 means more traffic on the LINX peering LAN that benefits the datacentre/ISP community as peering options increase, thus having more options to keep traffic local by exchanging prefixes on the IXP LAN and not having to route via transit.

The transmission POP will connect to LINX in InterXion so LDeX will be a reliable alternative site for clients looking for further diversity on the LINX LAN that do not currently connect to LINX in this location.

Could you tell us more about how this will improve the LDeX connectivity offering?

As LINX is the first internet exchange point (IXP) offering whichis available directly from the LDeX1 datacentre, it makes LDeX a real hub for connectivity meaning ISPs, MSPs and other customers that use a BGP platform can colocate their infrastructure in LDeX while being able to benefit from tier1, tier2, fibre, Ethernet and now the LINX peering LAN.

Being in LDeX is an inexpensive option for clients as the company does not charge a sizeable amount for cross connects and offers a cost effective colocation pricing model. Also clients will be able to peer in LDeX and not have to worry about backhaul prices to the LINX LAN. It gives clients the option to peer on the largest IXPs in Europe enabling them to create a low latency resilient network.

What will this mean for your customers and how will it impact on the LDeX service offering?

The transmission point of presence means that it is a direct service from LINX. LDeX will not be involved apart from introducing the benefits of LINX and peering to its existing and potential customers. There will be no costly cross connect fees when connecting to the LAN as it will be free to LDeX customers wishing to join the LINX peering LAN. As well as this, there will be no backhaul costs from LDeX to Interxion as the fibre is LINX owned which differs from the other virtual point of presence programmes.

What can customers expect as a result of this plan?

As a result of the plan, customers can expect inexpensive networking, lower latency networks and membership to a global IXP community with access to the best network engineers in the business.

What makes this transmission POP unique from other remote connections?

It’s essentially an extension of the LINX LAN via a fibre optic link into LDeX1. The service is delivered using DWDM equipment and any clients taking LINX ports have the option of either a GE or a 10GE port which is delivered over a wavelength. This is handed off to the client via Ethernet meaning that normal non DWDM transceivers are not required by the customer.

The system is a prerequisite to LINX deploying a full POP and once a critical mass of customers are connected via the transmission POP, this will trigger the deployment of a full POP with Juniper equipment in our LDeX1 datacentre facility. To the end client, it is the same end user experience as if the client was connecting to LINX in Telehouse North for example where the client purchases a port via LINX and order the cross connect

LDeX has the advantage of being on a diverse fibre ring within a certain optical distance threshold of other core LINX sites which is also a prerequisite of becoming a full lit POP.

For further information regarding the LDeX transmission POP, please contact Anne-Marie Lavelle - [email protected]