The year 2025 is already two weeks old and we are back to bring you some juicy news. As mentioned previously in our new 400G fabric announcement post here, we are redefining peering with our new platform using some major improvements. In this article we will announce a major one; "the split". When we launched ERA-IX back in 2022, our only focus was Amsterdam. After the great success, we decided to bring our great platform and service to another metro: Frankfurt. The easy way would be just to spin up another IXP, but, we truly believe(d) in one big platform. ERA-IX launched Frankfurt as just another PoP in our IXP, we call this concept a multi-metro-spanned IXP. We know that this concept isn't new and is also used by some of our competitors, however, the reputation of this concept is notorious. Although we agree with this infamous reputation based on current implementation, we decided to improve it and make it truly usable. We developed Horizon, a feature that ensures routes stay truly local, or not at all. This allows our members to influence routing in both directions. It's really cool and works great.

Unfortunately, the reputation of multi-metro-spanned IXPs is "damaged" beyond repair, combined with unclear or vague transport allowance, hesitant prospects, technically limited networks, and after listening to the community, we have decided to split up the metros into ERA-IX Amsterdam and ERA-IX Frankfurt. Does that mean we can't peer between metros? No, as we are building ERA-IX on top of the Eranium Fabric, we can offer VLANs for services, including IXP access. So for members in Frankfurt that want to peer with members in Amsterdam, or need to pick up that specific route, can get a VLAN on their port with access to ERA-IX Amsterdam. And vice versa!

After the split we can on-board more new members, offer clear transport options, offer a better administrative overview of members and their location, keep our pricing low and eventually bring ERA-IX in new metros around the globe.

The concept is clear, one port to the fabric in any location = access to multiple services via VLANs.

What's cooking?

• Slowly migrate members to our new 400G fabric, this is happening as we speak.
• Increase capacity between our PoPs using 400G technology.
• Working more closely with our partners and bring ERA-IX to more locations.
• Preparing our backend to support multiple "separate" IXPs, instead of one big IXP.
• Continuing automating the order flow, did you know our contracts are automatically generated and signed? No AI, just a bunch of if-statements!
• We are adding a lot more PoPs in the Netherlands (hint: not in Amsterdam!) and Frankfurt.
• Due to the success of our IP Transit product, we are upgrading to new routers, capacity and upstreams. Plus bringing this service to Frankfurt.
• Working towards a new "additional" peering product, which is a paid addon billed using P95, but cheaper than transit while greatly enhancing your peering reach with premium routes.

Dear friends, peering enthusiasts, fans, copy-cats and even competitors... are you excited? Because we are! Stay tuned for more news soon, and of course you know how to find us if you want to chat.

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