The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has set a new global milestone, recording a peak traffic of 12.069 Tbps across its International Exchange Points (IXPs) in the UK, US, Africa, and the Middle East. This surge was spurred by the recent UEFA football matches and the AFCON final.
These results underscore the increasing significance of live sports streaming in influencing global internet traffic patterns. With events streamed across numerous continents, reliable and low-latency IXPs have become important in delivering viewing experiences.
Jennifer Holmes, CEO of LINX, stated: "Surpassing an aggregate peak of over 12Tbps across all LINX-run IXPs is a milestone that highlights both the continued growth potential of our industry and the strength of our community." This achievement not only highlights the UK's role in this traffic peak but also reflects LINX's focus on regions beyond the UK, witnessing new peaks in Africa, North America, and the Middle East.
Particularly noteworthy was the 9.293 Tbps peak at the LON1 interconnection hub in London, underscoring support for large Content Delivery Network members. Riyadh followed suit with a 1Tb traffic milestone, confirming its status as a content hub in the Middle East.
The rise in LINX's traffic peaks is emblematic of a broader shift toward internet-first broadcasting. This necessitates a collaborative effort among OTT platforms, broadcasters, CDNs, ISPs, and cloud providers to ensure high-quality viewing experiences. IXPs, including those operated by LINX, support traffic exchange during major sporting events, enabling local and direct network connections.
LINX's network, reaching across Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East, helps ensure that traffic generated by events like the UEFA fixtures remains local, reducing latency and enhancing the streaming experience for viewers.
The London Internet Exchange, founded in 1994, is a global IXP, known for connecting over 900 autonomous systems worldwide. As a member-owned, not-for-profit establishment, it continuously enhances internet connectivity and performance through its infrastructure investments.
