Connection to LINX leads to significant growth for Bhutan Telecom

Feb. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- As one of the 350 members connected at LINX from 50 countries, Bhutan Telecom is able to peer with the wide range of international networks also present at the exchange. Peering is the method of exchanging Internet traffic by mutual agreement between parties free of cost.

Bhutan Telecom's first international Internet link to London was established in 2008 with a 45 Mbps link which has since been upgraded and now forms part of an increased overall capacity of 155 Mbps.

Tshering Norbu of Bhutan Telecom said: "Through our connection to LINX we are now able to provide an overall bandwidth total of 320 Mbps for international Internet links. Considering Bhutan's size and population it means the country potentially has one the highest international Internet bandwidth levels per inhabitant and Internet user in the world."

LINX Chief Executive Office, John Souter, added: "With over 50 countries represented at the exchange and membership covering so many differing network types, LINX can justly claim to have widest reach of any exchange point anywhere. It is gratifying to see that our members are benefitting greatly from connection at LINX and we hope many more organisations can see the benefits of doing likewise."

For more information on LINX membership and services please visit: www.linx.net

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Notes to editors:

1. LINX (www.linx.net) is a mutual, not-for-profit organisation whose 350 members include 58 of the top 100 global network operators*, almost all UK Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and content providers plus many from the Americas, mainland Europe, the Far East and Africa.
     *Total Telecom Global 100, 2009.

2. LINX was formed in 1994 when five ISPs recognised that there were considerable operational benefits to exchanging traffic between their networks in the UK. From the beginning every LINX member has had an equal vote in the management of the organisation.

3. The connection of networks at an Internet exchange point such as LINX is known as 'peering'. Network operators use public peering across the dual LINX Ethernet networks to exchange traffic with any other member by mutual agreement. LINX also offers a managed private network interconnect facility which is used for large traffic flows between two members.

4. LINX has a presence at ten London sites connected by secure fibre and DWDM links. The core of the network currently operates across a 12x10G Ethernet link. The extent and geographic resilience of the network was enhanced in 2008 with the addition of three new points of presence, each outside the main Docklands data centre area in east London.

5. The Internet traffic at LINX consists of a wide variety of data including streaming media, website downloads, business information and emails. Peak LINX traffic is the equivalent of 1,600,000 simultaneous Internet video streams.

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LINX is a mutually owned membership association for operators of IP networks. We provide a neutral interconnection facility and peering platform, known as an Internet Exchange Point, and represent the interests of our members on matters of public policy.