Nokia to upgrade DE-CIX New York backbone to 400GE

Nokia has been selected by DE-CIX to upgrade the backbone network of DE-CIX New York, which is recognised as the largest internet exchange in New York and the Northeast United States.

Nokia's optical technology will upgrade the DE-CIX backbone to 400 Gigabit Ethernet (GE). The upgrade entails a ring topology providing redundant interconnections among the ten data centre facilities that house the DE-CIX infrastructure, enhancing platform resilience for all participants.

This technological advancement by Nokia supports 800GE readiness for the anticipated growth of the internet exchange. It incorporates Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technology to provide more routing flexibility and faster incident response, thus ensuring continuity of customer experiences without service disruption.

Dr Thomas King, Chief Technology Officer of DE-CIX, commented, "When we began planning the upgrade of our New York backbone, we wanted to simplify our network, while also increasing the resilience of the platform. We took a detailed look at the options in the market, and Nokia was the best choice for us. We have worked with Nokia globally for more than 10 years now, and the capacity, reliability, and innovative strength of their hardware has always impressed us."

Employing a dense wavelength-division multiplexing system, the ROADM technology within Nokia's 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) allows for automatic wave rerouting at the optical layer. This is expected to decrease the required capacity at the IP layer without reducing resilience.

James Watt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nokia's optical business, stated, "In today's connected world, staying resilient and ready to scale is necessary. This upgrade to DE-CIX New York's backbone isn't just about supporting the largest Internet Exchange in the Northeast — it's about shaping the future of connectivity in one of the world's biggest markets. With Nokia's cutting-edge optical tech, we're ensuring networks are flexible, reliable, and ready to handle whatever comes next. Together with DE-CIX, we're building the foundation for a limitless digital future."

Ed d'Agostino, Vice President of DE-CIX North America, commented, "This upgrade, powered by Nokia's optical technology, allows us to future-proof our platform to best serve the New York market and start 2025 on track for further growth. With the number of data centres that we integrate, it is imperative that we have a state-of-the-art transport network with scalable capacity. DE-CIX New York is the largest IX in New York and the youngest Internet Exchange in the Top 5 largest IXs in the US. The platform covers an area spanning Long Island to the East and Piscataway and Edison to the South and West. It connects over 265 networks from across the city, with an infrastructure that spans over 40 data centres served."

The DE-CIX New York exchange is connected to other DE-CIX locations across North America, supporting remote peering and guaranteeing access to a diverse network ecosystem beyond what local exchanges typically offer. DE-CIX maintains an expansive carrier and data centre-neutral interconnection network across cities such as Dallas, Chicago, and Phoenix.

DE-CIX New York is also directly connected to European locations, like DE-CIX Frankfurt, the continent's largest internet exchange. As part of its global expansion plans, DE-CIX plans to continue offering interconnection services across various locations worldwide, confirming its place as a significant player in internet exchange operations.