SwissIX opens new PoP with 2×100 Gbit/s connections
Situation | Problem | Challenges
Maximum availability, minimal latency, and maximum security
As Switzerland’s leading Internet Exchange Point (IXP), SwissIX is a central hub for national and international data exchange. With the development of a new Point of Presence (PoP) between Zurich and CERN, SwissIX faced a challenging task: the existing infrastructure had to be expanded to include a high-performance, stable, and highly secure connection in order to reliably meet the ever-growing data traffic and increasing demands of the connected network operators.
The challenge lay not only in the required bandwidth, but above all in the combination of maximum availability, minimal latency, and maximum physical security. The new PoP had to be scalable in the long term and integrate seamlessly into the existing network architecture — without any risks to ongoing operations. SwissIX therefore deliberately sought a partner who, in addition to technical excellence, also had strategic understanding and operational experience in the operation of business-critical network connections.
Solution and competences
Geo-redundant 200 Gbit/s solution with maximum physical security
After a detailed analysis of the requirements, SwissIX opted for a geo-redundant 2×100 Gbit/s connection from GAS&COM, which was specially tailored to the needs of an Internet exchange. A key element of the solution is the routing along existing gas pipeline infrastructures, which are deliberately located far away from traditional transport or telecommunications axes. This achieves an exceptionally high level of physical security and stability.
The solution combines performance, redundancy, and future-proofing in a holistic design:
- The two 100 Gbit/s connections are fully geo- redundant, reliably protecting SwissIX from failures on individual sections of the route.
- The architecture allows for scalable bandwidth expansion up to the current 800 Gbit/s without any fundamental changes to the infrastructure.
- Thanks to the direct routing without unnecessary nodes, particularly low latency times are achieved — a decisive factor for the operation of an Internet exchange.
GAS&COM not only provided state-of-the-art infrastructure, but also comprehensive planning, engineering, and operational expertise. Close cooperation with the SwissIX technical teams, short decision-making processes, and proactive project management ensured smooth implementation
Achieved goals for our customer
More performance, security, and scalability for SwissIX
01
Increased service reliability thanks to a highly available, geo-redundant backbone connection.
02
Expansion of the service offering in French-speaking Switzerland, with consistently high quality and performance.
03
Significantly reduced risk of failure thanks to physically separate routing along the gas pipeline infrastructure.
04
High and flexibly scalable bandwidth to easily cover current and future data requirements.
05
Future-proof network architecture, enabling further growth without structural adjustments.
Improved service availability
Lower end-to-end latencies
Lower risk of physical route failures
Additional bandwidth reserves
Reduction in operating costs
This case study exemplifies how GAS&COM, as a customer-oriented connectivity partner, translates complex requirements into stable, secure, and scalable connectivity solutions wherever availability and performance are business-critical.
About
SwissIX was founded in March 2001 by a group of Swiss Internet service providers as an association to create a neutral infrastructure for the exchange of Internet traffic in Switzerland. The first PoP was set up in Glattbrugg near Zurich at the end of 2001, followed by another PoP in Zurich in 2004. At that time, both locations were connected via a 1 Gbit/s connection. In the following years, the network was gradually expanded.
SwissIX now has eight PoPs covering Basel, Bern, the greater Zurich area, and, with Geneva, western Switzerland. All locations are now connected to each other via several 100 Gbit/s lines. In 2026, SwissIX will celebrate its 25th anniversary, regularly reaching aggregated traffic peaks of just under one terabit per second with over 240 connected peers, and will also offer 400 Gbit/s ports in Zurich in its anniversary year.
Arist Volger, SwissIX
“With the 2×100 Gbit/s connections, GAS&COM has implemented a powerful, geo-redundant solution for us. It offers high operational reliability and allows for expansion as needed, exactly what we need for our peers.”
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Highly available, secure, and future-proof.
New case study: SwissIX relies on geo-redundant 2×100 Gbit/s from GAS&COM for its new PoP.