The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has reached a new milestone in its global network expansion, activating its 25th 400-gigabit Ethernet (400GE) port, signalling growing demand for ultra-high bandwidth interconnection services.
The first 400GE port was deployed in 2021, and since then demand has surged, driven by the growth of cloud computing, video streaming, gaming, and artificial intelligence workloads. Each 400GE port provides four times the capacity of a standard 100GE connection, allowing networks to consolidate traffic, reduce operational complexity, and enhance resilience.
LINX has invested heavily in Nokia’s next-generation optical hardware to support 400GE connections in its London and Manchester data centres. The upgrades aim to allow members to scale capacity rapidly while maintaining the reliability critical to global internet traffic.
Jennifer Holmes, Chief Executive of LINX, said the milestone reflects “the evolving needs of our members and the strength of our technical infrastructure.”
She added that larger networks had been early adopters of 400GE, and that in the past year UK internet service providers were increasingly upgrading capacity in London and Manchester, a sign of shifting traffic patterns and regional peering strategies.
The milestone comes as LINX expands its footprint internationally, with interconnection platforms in the United States and Africa. Industry observers said the 400GE rollout underscores broader trends in digital infrastructure, as network operators adapt to growing data volumes and the accelerating pace of digital transformation.
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by visiting our LinkedIn page.
