Speaker
Description
INFO: This talk contains an update of my EPF2025 submission with latest developments.
The peering landscape is entering a period of accelerated change. Traditional exchange platforms have long been at the center of interconnection, but their role is being reshaped as large networks and hyperscalers demand new forms of scalability, automation, and cost efficiency. The challenge lies not in the quality or reliability of IXPs themselves, but in how their pricing structures, platform limitations, and utilization patterns interact with today’s traffic volumes and business models.
As port costs remain high relative to transit, and as utilization inefficiencies further raise the effective price per Mbps, the traditional value proposition of peering is shifting. At the same time, major networks are moving toward dedicated, highly automated interconnection programs, reducing reliance on conventional exchange points and creating a new competitive dynamic.
This presentation will explore the drivers behind this evolution, why they have been mostly overlooked until now, and what the resulting changes mean for IXPs, ISPs, and end-users who depend on a resilient and cost-effective Internet ecosystem.
