Google set to peer at CINX
It is well known that Google has had an established network presence in South Africa since 2009, serving content like certain YouTube videos and Google search results from locally hosted servers.
The exact location of Google’s Global Cache servers are typically not communicated, and although it has been published that the search giant has a presence on the TENET, Internet Solutions and Vodacom Business networks these providers usually don’t market this information.
It has now come to light that Google is planning to start peering with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) directly at the Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX) in the near future. According to one source Google’s node at CINX is ready and waiting, and that it is just waiting for additional infrastructure to activate its peering.
It is understood that Google is keen to peer openly with any ISP with a presense at CINX, an initiative which will not only mean savings on bandwidth costs by ISPs but also faster loading and better service levels associated with Google services in South Africa.
Google’s relationship with CINX stretches back a few years, and in 2008 the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) revealed that Google had offered to provide a switch for its Cape Town Internet Exchange (CINX) and that ISPA had accepted “this kind offer”.
CINX officially went live in September 2009, allowing ISPs in the Western Cape to interconnect with each other. “We decided to reintroduce the CINX to meet overwhelming demand from members with operations in Cape Town for a local exchange in the city. Cape Town business and consumers are now producing more than enough Internet traffic to justify an exchange for the city,” Rob Hunter, Chair of JINX Working Groups said at the time.
It is rumoured that Google is not immediately looking at peering at the Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX), but Google could not confirm or deny these rumours.
Google and ISPA were asked for comment about Google’s peering plans at CINX, but they did not reply by the time of publication.
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