MIX – Milan Internet Exchange: the best components for maximum reliability and performance

The Milan Internet Exchange achieves its objectives thanks also to the optimal technical components

The Milan Internet Exchange – MIX – is the largest internet exchange in Italy and one of Europe’s leaders in terms of data traffic carried. MIX is the interconnection point where internet operators (ISPs, carriers, content and hosting providers) connect for efficient IP data traffic exchange.

Formed in 2000, MIX now has 19 of the leading Italian internet companies among its members and plays a key role in improving the nation’s use of the internet by providing all ISPs with a high-speed, low-latency peering platform that enables efficient data exchange. MIX offers peering services to both Italian and foreign operators.

With an aggregated data traffic of over 584 Gbps, MIX represents Italy’s most important root zone of internet operators and carriers and is one of the most significant European internet exchanges. Elevated accessibility from every point of the Italian and European internet makes MIX an ideal choice for the hosting of top level domain name server and root name server services.

A structure that requires reliable providers

MIX has the technology required to ensure the highest levels of network and service reliability and availability. By hosting operator devices at its data centers, MIX guarantees security and redundancy. The MIX peering network features a switching platform with a performance of more than 4 terabits per second, equipped in redundancy for guaranteed reliability. MIX has the technology required to ensure the highest levels of network and service reliability and availability. By hosting operator devices at its data centers, MIX guarantees security and redundancy. The MIX peering network features a switching platform with a performance of more than 4 terabits per second, equipped in redundancy for guaranteed reliability. Through its infrastructure, MIX can provide its ISPs with interconnection capacities from 100 Mbps to multiples of 100 Gbps. A structure with this scope must maintain the highest quality and cutting-edge technology in every device used, and must have the most reliable providers in terms of installation speed, maintenance and service.

MIX objectives and the choice of Rosenberger OSI

In the first months of 2017, MIX chose Rosenberger OSI as the partner best suited to filling its need to set up and maintain a homogeneous, high-performing system. The technical solution employed featured the adoption of SMAP-G2 HD plate distribution panels, single mode fiber trunk cables with MTP^®- MTP^® connectors and trunk cables with LC-LC connectors. CAT7 pre-assembled copper cable trunks with CAT6A shielded jacks were also used.

Introducing Rosenberger OSI solutions permitted the achievement of the following key objectives:

decreased interconnection complexity
increased scalability
contained costs
improved quality

We are proud of having developed the project together with MIX. Because it involves operators at the Italian and international levels, MIX activity is vitally important and must therefore be provided with top-of-the-range, technologically secure, avant-garde solutions designed with future evolution already in mind. The decision made by MIX to adopt Rosenberger OSI solutions provides a confirmation of the German company’s technical quality. The objective of Rosenberger OSI has always been to create modular, scalable, and integrated network structures that can guarantee more than 50 % higher channel density in comparable spaces. The use of factory pre-assembled trunk cable technology offers the advantage of not requiring specialists, measurement devices or tools for laying.

Paolo Parabelli, sales manager for Italy at Rosenberger OSI

The choice to adopt the German company’s solution with 50% higher channel density than traditional systems on a wide scale was also suggested by the physical space available, an important factor for a data center. Scalability also played a big part in selecting the solution. The possibility to integrate fiber and copper in the same platform facilitates and optimizes the entire system. Launched in 2017, the project is in constant expansion and in pace with the growth of MIX: new elements are activated on Rosenberger OSI solutions. Above and beyond the quality of its products, Rosenberger OSI also offers rapid and reliable material delivery service. FO cables can be ordered to specific lengths and characteristics, and are delivered within a guaranteed maximum of two working weeks.

Launched in 2017, the project is in constant expansion and in pace with the growth of MIX: new elements are activated on Rosenberger OSI solutions. Above and beyond the quality of its products, Rosenberger OSI also offers rapid and reliable material delivery service. FO cables can be ordered to specific lengths and characteristics, and are delivered within a guaranteed maximum of two working weeks.

Description of the MIX network, devices, and applications

The implementation of Rosenberger OSI solutions in MIX Data Centers amounts to an investment for the future in network infrastructure capable of keeping up with the pace of new technologies and the growth of traffic and interconnections. Moreover, it ensures a substantial reduction in operating costs thanks to optimized use of space.

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