Industry & Business

Internet exchange operator UNIFI-IX switched on a new international internet exchange in Dublin on Thursday, making Dublin the fourth city to be connected to its 100 gigabit network.

The opening of the internet exchange will see five jobs created in the first twelve months, as well as an investment of €600,000. This is expected to rise, as UNIFI-IX grows its global footprint. It is initially connecting two high density locations for data centre investment and telecommunications services: one in the northwest of Dublin and one in the southwest of the city.

UNIFI-IX, founded in England earlier this year, is targeting its cost-cutting services at the world’s largest internet, cloud, social media, telecommunications and content network companies, many of which are based in Ireland.

In addition to the two Dublin locations, UNIFI-IX’s network currently connects to four data centres in London, one in Birmingham, and one in Manchester. It is currently building its network in Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, New York, Dallas, North Virginia and Dubai.

“Our new infrastructure will significantly reduce the number of steps needed to interconnect major cloud, internet and content services,” Managing Director of UNIFI-IX Tom Sanders said. “Our investment will help indigenous internet oriented start-ups and increase Ireland’s attractiveness as a location for investment by multi-national and internet oriented companies.

“Some of the companies we are talking to already have networks of private circuits interconnecting with multiple international destinations. We offer more extensive connectivity on a single integrated network, guaranteed speeds, and our market and technical analysis shows that companies choosing to interconnect with us will make cost savings of between 20 and 70 percent, depending on the profile of their network.”

In order to accelerate growth of its community in Ireland, UNIFI-IX’s is offering customers a free additional connection as part of its launch promotion.