FX Networks moves 'big content' closer to internet users

Fibre network operator FX Networks has expanded its fiber-based "peering" service.

Sharing networks (through a managed interconnection or peering service) makes it cheaper and easier for "big content" providers such as TVNZ Ondemand, and ISPs that service up their data.

Privately-held FX says its peering service will be available over NZ Internet Exchange (NZIX) points in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch. 

"It means that 'big content' providers on our network have a dedicated delivery system to a large number of localised interconnects with other ISPs. This means it is more resilient, and is faster," FX general manager of executive projects Jamie Baddeley told NBR ONLINE.

"We hope this will be much more meaningful as the UFB rolls out and those servicing the average home or business user have an opportunity to re-architect their retail proposition around developments like this.

"Over time we hope that this means there will be tangible performance and price improvement from an end user's perspective as important content players are helping us ensure their content gets closer to the end user at little cost to the end users ISP.

"It'll help the UFB scale faster because retail ISP's won't need to backhaul as much because we are bringing 'big content' to them as close to the user demand as possible."

RAW DATA: FX Networks press release

FX Networks ramps up Kiwi peering locations

FX Networks has announced the availability of increased fibre-based interconnection points around New Zealand. These ISP connections will be available over NZ Internet Exchange (NZIX) points in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch. FX Networks also invites the service provider community – particularly small, medium and large ISPs – to get in touch regarding access to new bilateral peering connections in Rotorua, Napier, Timaru, Dunedin, Tauranga, Whangarei and Nelson. More locations are to follow.

Jamie Baddeley, the general manager of executive projects for FX Networks, said his company was the only NZ ISP which peers at all of these NZIX exchange points. “We’ve also extended our peering footprint to selected UFB zones on a bilateral basis where the NZIX interconnection points didn’t previously exist."

“It’s great to see online content getting even easier for people to access, thanks to FX,” said Dr Murray Milner, director of Crown Fibre Holdings. “As Ultra Fast Broadband is rolled out across New Zealand’s cities and towns, access speeds to peering & interconnection points in each city will increase. Together, these developments will improve the online experience for New Zealanders. ”

Content providers who are customers of FX Networks will also be able to leverage the platform to deliver content all around New Zealand, and to peered ISPs of FX Networks. Radio New Zealand has recently joined as a customer, taking advantage of FX’s wide peering relationships to deliver content as efficiently as possible to New Zealanders. The public broadcaster will be using the FX Network via geographically diverse connections in Auckland and Wellington, ensuring that it can fulfil its role as a lifeline utility during civil emergencies.

Via this peering approach, FX Networks is now able to deliver content to the vast majority of UFB zones for TVNZ, Weta Digital, the Geonet Natural Hazards Reporting System, more than 20 government agencies, and many more. Mr Baddeley encouraged all Retail Service Providers on both UFB and RBI to “get in touch” to arrange high performance connectivity to many of NZ’s largest and most important online sites.

Building on a successful free, public wifi collaboration between Trade Me and FX Networks in the Christchurch CBD, the online marketplace is also available via FX Networks. Paul Ford, head of communications at Trade Me said: “We had a great experience working with the FX team on the Re:Start wifi project in Christchurch, so it’s cool to see other things happening with FX too.”

Mr Baddeley said the developments today meant for many content providers on the FX Network, the potential population served for interconnection or peering reach had gone up more than 50%. “For those providers, this is a real shift about how customers of other ISPs can connect to content. We understand that our customers want to ensure their content is as widely available as possible, and this will be increasingly important as the RBI and UFB are rolled out. We hope this new development is a sign the industry is transforming to meet the needs of a high performance fibre-based world.”

The new arrangement also includes delivery of content via FX Networks to peering points with Telecom New Zealand in at least 20 of 29 locations around the country where Telecom Xtra residential DSL users are interconnected. FX and Telecom Wholesale brokered a peering (or interconnect) arrangement in April 2010. This has recently been renewed post Telecom separation.

This has proved vital to public safety in near real time. FX Networks carries the Geonet Earthquake reporting system all around the country via the nationally distributed interconnects with Telecom and other ISP’s. Last week many felt the magnitude 7 quake centred near Opunake. Immediately after this quake FX Networks easily carried over 600Mbps of public safety information on demand to the rest of New Zealand from the Geonet System.