DE-CIX Selects Nokia to Deliver New York Exchange Upgrade

DE-CIX, the global internet exchange (IX) operator, has partnered with Nokia to upgrade its New York internet exchange infrastructure at DE-CIX New York.
The project centres on implementing a 400 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) backbone upgrade using Nokia's optical technology. GE technology enables high-speed data transmission between network devices.
The implementation also includes support for future 800GE capacity expansion.
Dr Thomas King, Chief Technology Officer at DE-CIX, says: “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.
“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.”
The power of optical networking technology
DE-CIX New York’s upgrade will make use of Nokia's Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technology within its 1830 Photonic Service Switch.
ROADM enables automatic wave rerouting at the optical layer around the backbone network, allowing faster incident response and reduced IP layer capacity requirements while maintaining resilience levels.
Additionally, the upgrade involves restructuring the network into a ring topology, a configuration where devices connect in a circular chain to share data. This topology will link 10 data centre facilities housing DE-CIX infrastructure, intended to strengthen the platform's resilience for participants.
“In today's connected world, staying resilient and ready to scale is a must,” explains James Watt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nokia’s optical business.
“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.”
The deployment also forms part of Nokia's strategy to support cloud infrastructure providers in building data centre networks capable of managing increasing AI workload demands. Nokia in fact reported higher-than-expected fourth quarter profit and sales results in Q4, which can be attributed to its continued involvement in boosting data centre networks.
Global expansion strengthens DE-CIX market position
DE-CIX operates the largest carrier and data centre neutral interconnection ecosystem in North America. The company interconnects network operators, internet service providers, content providers and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries through its exchange points.
- 400GE backbone upgrade
- 800GE support for anticipated further growth
- Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) technology
The New York facility in particular maintains direct connections to DE-CIX locations in Europe, including DE-CIX Frankfurt, which serves as the largest IX in Europe.
In January 2025, the company expanded its presence in the Middle East through a partnership with e& to enhance the regional internet exchange ecosystem through direct connections to DE-CIX's global network.
The company now provides interconnection services across 60 locations spanning Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East and Asia.
- DE-CIX interconnects thousands of network operators, ISPs, content providers and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries
Ed d'Agostino, Vice President DE-CIX North America, says: “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.”
He adds: “With the number of data centers 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.”
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