The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has successfully expanded its network in Nairobi, completing the integration with PAIX Nairobi, which is now ready for service orders. This expansion is designed to enhance local internet traffic management and support the burgeoning digital economy in the region.
Launched in November 2023, LINX Nairobi is a neutral, multi-site IXP that initially operated from three data centre locations across the Kenyan capital. The decision to extend the network fabric to include PAIX Nairobi was driven by demand from the local networking community, allowing PAIX to serve as a full access point to the LINX infrastructure.
In its inaugural year, PAIX Nairobi has attracted a diverse array of participants, including significant local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and global firms such as Meta and Starlink. By connecting to LINX Nairobi, a single connection grants access to a vast community of networks for peering services and more, irrespective of their physical location within the metro area.
“Expanding our LINX Nairobi fabric to PAIX is a key step in supporting the growth of Africa’s digital economy. Our vision is to create a dynamic interconnection community in the region, enabling networks to exchange traffic locally while accessing global opportunities. This collaboration with PAIX will help us achieve that goal and deliver even greater value to our members,” said Nurani Nimpuno, Head of Global Engagement at LINX.
PAIX Nairobi is strategically located at the Britam Tower in Upper Hill, the financial hub of East and Central Africa, and serves various sectors, including ISPs, content networks, e-commerce, broadcasting, and gaming companies. As a state-of-the-art carrier-neutral data centre, PAIX is designed for a diverse clientele across East Africa, facilitating seamless connectivity with LINX’s robust global ecosystem.
“We are thrilled to partner with LINX to bring their globally recognised interconnection fabric to our Nairobi facility. This extension underscores PAIX’s commitment to providing our customers with access to best-in-class connectivity services, supporting their growth and innovation efforts,” said Emmanuel Makina, Sales Manager of PAIX Data Centres.
“We support our customers’ network expansions on the African continent by rolling out and operating world-class infrastructures. With the services offered by LINX in Kenya, we’re preparing the market for further data centre investments. It’s great to see the cooperation between our teams on the African and European continents delivering results,” said Wouter van Hulten, CEO of PAIX Data Centres.
As part of this new opportunity, networks co-located at PAIX Nairobi can obtain a free cross-connect to the LINX Nairobi community, joining a global membership. The membership has a monthly fee of $130, which includes a 10G port and 2Gbps of LINX service, with additional options available to meet diverse network requirements. The LINX services available from PAIX encompass peering, private VLANs, closed user groups, and the exclusive Microsoft Azure Peering Service (MAPS).
This expansion represents a crucial advancement in LINX’s mission to enhance connectivity and interconnection capabilities throughout East Africa.
