30 Years of LINX: Shaping Internet and Powering Connectivity

Leading global Internet Exchange Point (IXP) LINX marks its 30-year anniversary of advancing the Internet, with a continued focus on enhancing global connectivity.

Since its launch, LINX has grown into a critical hub for global Internet traffic and has increased its connected network capacity by 17% in one year, from 60.10 Tbps in 2023, to 72.91 Tbps in 2024. 

The network traffic being passed across LINX’s global platforms continues to increase year on year. Notably, in 2024, LINX achieved its highest-ever network traffic, with a maximum peak of over 10.841 terabits per second (Tbps), up from 9.229 Tbps in 2023 and 7.424 Tbps in 2022.

30 years of Internet: The story so far

There were approximately three million Internet users in 1994 - a figure that has now surged to roughly 5.35 billion in 2024. 

Such significant growth highlights how far the Internet has come worldwide, shaping how we connect, communicate and conduct business. The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has been an integral part of this journey and continues to play a crucial role in the development of Internet infrastructure to facilitate connectivity for millions around the world.

Over the past three decades, LINX has continued to expand its portfolio of interconnection products and services to meet the evolving needs of its members. 

Collaborating ensures continued reliable access to business-critical applications, offering users greater control over their network traffic. It also helps them to mitigate the risk of cyberattacks and provide direct connections to Microsoft’s public cloud services.

LINX has members based across more than 85 countries. Throughout 2024, LINX has celebrated 10 years of operations in the US through its LINX NoVA Internet Exchange in Northern Virginia. 

The company has also taken its first step into Africa with the launch of the LINX Nairobi Internet Exchange in Kenya in late 2023. Further announcements have also come in 2024, with plans for LINX Mombasa in Kenya and LINX Accra in Ghana - both due to launch in 2025.

Additionally, LINX has welcomed a host of new partners as part of its UK growth strategy, including Lunar Digital Data Centre and AtlasEdge Data Centre in Manchester.

New LINX CEO holds a clear vision

LINX also welcomed its new CEO, Jennifer Holmes, in November 2024. Having been with LINX since 2007, Jennifer is well-positioned to keep the LINX community serving its members.

“Over the past three decades, the Internet has transformed the way we connect, communicate, and conduct business,” Jennifer shares. “As the digital landscape has evolved, so too has the infrastructure that supports it. LINX has played a vital role in this journey, adapting to the increasing demand for reliable connectivity and seamless online experiences.”

LINX’s 17% increase in network capacity highlights its continued commitment to a robust and efficient Internet ecosystem. Jennifer shares that such growth helps LINX continue its mission to support businesses, ISPs and content providers to build a larger interconnected global network.

The exchange is eager to stay relevant across its core UK and London markets, whilst continuing to add value to local networking communities in other regions. Primarily, it will engage with its members to create strong relationships and respond to feedback to ensure continued growth.

Jennifer adds: "LINX continues to sustain, grow, and optimise its services by introducing new products and pricing, ensuring it provides ongoing value for its 850+ members through flexible peering speeds and services."

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