Broadband Provider Exascale Creates Own Midlands UK Internet Exchange

Broadband ISP and UK network builder Exascale, which has deployed their own gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to a few thousand premises in part of Telford and Wrekin, this week did something quite unique by quietly founding a brand new Internet Exchange (IX) in the Midlands (MidlandsIX).

Internet exchanges are physical sites that allow ISPs, content delivery networks (CDN) and other network operators to interconnect. Such facilities can deliver more efficient network routing and peering, which cuts both costs and helps performance in all sorts of different ways (latency etc.). The UK already has a number of primary IXs, many of which are run by the not-for-profit London Internet Exchange (LINX).

The big news this week is that business ISP Exascale has set up its own IX for the Midlands of England. Initially, MidandsIX will be offering 10G ports for free in Exascale facilities, while 100G and 400G ports will be available at a “low monthly reoccurring cost“. Ports in non-Exascale facilities will attract a monthly reoccurring cost regardless of port size.

Thomas Bibb, CEO of Exascale, said:

“I’m thrilled to announce the founding of a brand new Internet Exchange, right here in the Midlands!

MidlandsIX is perfectly positioned in the heart of the UK, enabling faster, more resilient, and more efficient interconnection for networks across the country. Our goal is to strengthen regional connectivity, reduce latency, and support the ever-growing demand for high-performance internet infrastructure.”

The new exchange will span Exascale’s facilities in Telford and Wolverhampton initially, although the ISP said they are already in discussions over establishing other facilities in the Midlands. Thomas added that “we’re creating this exchange for the good of the internet and the community we serve, we seek to just recover our costs, nothing more“.