Internet Exchange Point

The Internet Exchange Point abbreviated as the IX or IXP is the actual infrastructure through which the service providers of Internet exchange the traffic. One of the major functions of the Internet Exchange Point is link the internet service providers directly through the exchange bypassing any third party interference.

The network has multiple or single switches to which the Internet Service Providers are connected replacing the earlier used fiber-optic inter-repeater link (FOIRL) or Fiber Distributed Data Interface. The cost of the traffic passage is not billed to the different users and is directly done with the Service Providers. This makes the exchange much easier. The second attribute amongst the advantages is the speed and bandwidth. The exchange points which are located within a comparatively short distance saves the time which would have been otherwise wasted had the data travelled through exchange points located in other cities.

This is one of the reasons that the internet connections at times are slow in remote locations and costlier too. The mutual peering agreements take care of the technical and business requirements of the exchange between the exchange points and the service providers.