DE-CIX and South Front Networks partner to reduce latency to content for ISPs in the Upper Midwest

Transport partnership extends reach of DE-CIX Chicago to a further 20 points of presence, bringing low-latency access to content and gaming networks for Internet Service Providers in the Upper Midwest.

South Front Networks, a leading provider of carrier-neutral transport and interconnection services, and Internet Exchange (IX) operator DE-CIX, today announced their partnership to enhance connectivity for ISPs from the Upper Midwest to content, including major gaming networks, through DE-CIX Chicago. South Front Networks’ customers can benefit from turnkey low-cost transport, protected routes, and no additional cross-connect costs to access the leading data center and carrier-neutral IX operator in North America.

Ranked #2 in the Chicago market, DE-CIX Chicago connects 80+ networks, including content not readily available at other regional exchanges. South Front Networks’ customers can take advantage of the network density in Chicago without even needing a Point of Presence (PoP) there. The 400 GE interconnection is already in place, and the service is orderable as of today.

By focusing exclusively on the “middle-mile”, South Front Networks is well-positioned to work alongside both international tier 1 providers and local last-mile access providers. Their points of presence offer quick, easy, and cost-effective interconnect solutions, including transport, transit, and Internet Exchanges. South Front Networks has 20 PoPs and a network spanning Peoria (IL) to Des Moines (IA), and on to Minneapolis (MN).

The fastest-growing IX in Illinois, DE-CIX Chicago has experienced more than 300% traffic growth in the last 12 months. The exchange offers access ports ranging from 10 GE through to 400 GE, well-equipped for growing volumes of data traffic. DE-CIX Chicago is also the only major exchange in the Chicago metro area to become a Google Verified Peering Partner (gold status), enabling connected networks to peer directly with the hyperscaler.

“South Front Networks, with its focus on the US middle-mile and reach across three states, is a perfect partner to bring local and regional ISPs to DE-CIX Chicago. We welcome the opportunity to allow ISPs from the Midwest to cost-effectively and easily access content networks in Chicago without having to have a PoP in the Windy City,” said Ed d’Agostino, Vice President, DE-CIX North America. “By connecting to DE-CIX Chicago, ISPs and organizations benefit from low-latency access to many regionally unique content networks, as well as reliable and diverse connectivity to major content providers that appear elsewhere in the region.”

"South Front Networks is excited to bring yet another turnkey peering opportunity for carriers in the Upper Midwest,” said Jay Hanke, President at South Front Networks. “The new interconnection with DE-CIX will help level the interconnection playing field for smaller carriers in the Upper Midwest.”

DE-CIX Chicago is directly connected to the entire ecosystem of DE-CIX exchanges in North America, including New York, Dallas, Phoenix, Richmond, and Houston, the Cloud Exchange in Seattle, and the distributed IX DE-CIX Mexico. Together, these form the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem on the continent, enabling networks to connect remotely and exchange data traffic with networks in other DE-CIX locations. Through the DE-CIX backbone, connected networks also gain access to DE-CIX’s global interconnection ecosystem, including more than 60 cities across South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

About DE-CIX North America

DE-CIX North America Inc., pronounced DEE-KICKS [dˈi:-kˈɪks], which began operations in 2014, is a wholly owned subsidiary of DE-CIX International AG, the international arm of DE-CIX, the world’s leading Internet Exchange operator. DE-CIX provides network and data center neutral peering and other interconnection services in North America. The DE-CIX Internet Exchanges in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Phoenix, and Richmond, the dedicated Cloud Exchange in Seattle, and the distributed IX DE-CIX Mexico form the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem in North America. DE-CIX’s IXs are distributed across major carrier hotels and data centers throughout each metro region it serves. DE-CIX operates more access points than any other Internet Exchange operator in North America. For more information, please visit https://de-cix.net/north-america

About South Front Networks

South Front Networks (SFN) is a leading provider of carrier-neutral transport and interconnection services across the Upper Midwest. Focused exclusively on the middle-mile, SFN partners with both international Tier 1 carriers and local last-mile access providers to deliver fast, cost-effective interconnection solutions. Through its network of carrier motels throughout Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, SFN offers transport, transit, and Internet Exchange Point services, including wave transport up to 400G, dark fiber, and wholesale Ethernet. Founded in 2018, SFN is headquartered in Mankato, Minnesota. For more information, visit southfront.io.

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