CHN-IX was conceptualized in 2013 by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) and China Academy of Telecommunication Research (CATR) to address the growing demand for internet exchange services in China.
The project was designed to be a neutral and independent internet exchange, providing a platform for internet service providers (ISPs) to interconnect and exchange traffic.
CHN-IX's launch was a significant milestone, marking the first time a national-level internet exchange was established in China.
Suggestion: Mumbai IX
Importance and Significance
In China, an Internet Exchange (IX) is crucial for efficient interconnectivity.
With an IX, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Internet Content Providers (ICPs) can connect to the exchange platform at a nominal fee, enabling multi-party BGP connectivity and reducing the number of hops.
The Chinese government is actively promoting Internet Plus and Broadband China initiatives, making it essential to have effective ways for Internet traffic to flow.
President Xi emphasized the importance of connectivity in his 2015 keynote speech at the Wuzhen World Internet Conference, stating that "The essence of the Internet is connectivity, and herein lies the value of information."
The government's focus on connectivity is also reflected in the Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation program launched by the central government, which aligns with the goals of CHN-IX as an open and innovative IX platform.
CHN-IX is built to the highest global standard, with a strategic partnership with AMS-IX, one of the world's largest IXPs with 20 years of experience.
From Idea to Functional IX in Less Than Two Years
The idea of building an Internet Exchange (IX) in Beijing started in mid-2014 when I joined ChinaCache.
ChinaCache had been founded in 1998 with Content Delivery Network (CDN) as its core business, but had also ventured into data centre services in the last few years.
A unique location for the IX was identified in the Tianzhu Free Trade zone near the Beijing Capital International Airport, which is somewhat equivalent to being outside of Chinese Customs.
This location reminded me of the two-zone (domestic and international) Equinix IX setup in Dubai, and it occurred to me that we could have an opportunity to build an IX that would have a domestic and an international side.
However, building an international IX in Beijing was a long shot, so we proceeded to work on the domestic side of the IX only as the first step.
Good timing and strong leadership were key to our success, with Mr. Wang Song, founder, Chairman, and CEO of ChinaCache, relentlessly working from different angles with all the relevant parties.
Mr. Wang quickly came on board with the idea of an IX, and he believed that an IX in the data centre would improve efficiency and bring value to customers.
Government and Future Direction
The Chinese government has been actively promoting better interconnectivity in the country, launching official Network Access Points (NAPs) in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in the early 2000s.
President Xi delivered a keynote speech at the Wuzhen World Internet Conference in 2015, calling for the "speed up the building of global Internet infrastructure and promote interconnectivity".
In fact, the essence of the Internet is connectivity, according to President Xi, who also stated that "The essence of the Internet is connectivity, and herein lies the value of information."
CHN-IX, an open and innovative Internet exchange platform, aligns perfectly with the government's Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation program.
The central government's focus on promoting interconnectivity is crucial for China's continued growth as a leader in Internet traffic.
With the government's initiatives, such as Internet Plus and Broadband China, it's essential to have more effective ways for Internet traffic to flow.
CHN-IX aims to achieve 35 connected members by the end of 2016, and with the support from the community, it's hoped that this goal will be reached.
The platform is already making progress, with three active networks connected and another half a dozen being provisioned.
Milestones and Achievements
It's been just over a year since ChinaCache launched CHN-IX, China's first Internet Exchange.
The first Internet Exchange in China was launched by ChinaCache in April 2016.
The concept of an Internet exchange has gained acceptance in the community and made it to the title line of an official summit.
ChinaCache hosted the 2017 Data Center and Internet Exchange Summit in Beijing, which was attended by over 200 industry professionals.
The summit highlighted topics such as IX development and the engineering and design elements of constructing a data centre.
ChinaCache's CEO, Mr Song Wang, spoke about the need for Internet exchanges in China, citing the dominance of the three big carriers and the lack of true Internet interconnectivity.
Mr Jinghua Zhong, director of CDCC, commended ChinaCache for pioneering IX development in China and foresees large-scale IX development becoming an imperative.
ChinaCache's Atecsys Data Center Campus in Beijing is home to China's first IX, CHN-IX, and boasts being China's truly carrier-neutral data centre.
ChinaCache has reached over 50 members at the end of the first quarter of 2017 and expects to reach around 70 at the end of 2Q2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IX in networking?
An Internet Exchange (IX) is a network hub that enables data exchange between multiple networks, bypassing third-party providers and transit fees. It's a key component of the internet infrastructure, facilitating fast and efficient data transfer between networks
What is the difference between IX and ISP?
An internet exchange (IX) is a physical location where networks connect to exchange traffic, whereas an internet service provider (ISP) is a company that offers internet access to customers. Think of IX as a hub for network connections and ISPs as the providers of internet services to end-users.
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