DE-CIX Frankfurt sets data throughput record at 18 Tbps
The DE-CIX internet exchange in Frankfurt has achieved a new data throughput record by surpassing 18 terabits per second.
On the evening of 20th November, DE-CIX Frankfurt experienced a momentous flow of data, precisely 18.11 terabits per second, marking a milestone for Europe's largest internet exchange. This achievement aligns with concurrent gaming releases and updates from various providers.
Within the past year alone, traffic at this significant data hub has grown by nearly 10%. Over the last five years, data throughput at DE-CIX Frankfurt has more than doubled, increasing by 118%. To put this figure into perspective, 18 terabits per second is equivalent to the simultaneous streaming of approximately 10 million TikTok videos or, metaphorically speaking, the water content of around 90 million bathtubs every second.
Ivo Ivanov, Chief Executive Officer at DE-CIX, commented on this development. "Digital and high-bandwidth data-based services are driving the growth in traffic at DE-CIX Frankfurt," Ivanov stated. "Internet Exchanges are not only at the heart of all online offers for end-users when it comes to streaming and gaming, but also for industry, which can use them to open up new intelligent, data-driven business models."
"To interconnect the value chain holistically and capitalize on economic opportunities collaboratively, DE-CIX provides the necessary infrastructure to enable data to be utilized on an industry-wide scale in a controlled, secure, and low-latency manner."
DE-CIX is a prominent operator of internet exchanges globally, offering a suite of services, including peering and cloud connectivity. It maintains operations in nearly 60 locations spanning regions such as Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia. The exchange is accessible through data centres across over 600 cities worldwide, interlinking thousands of network operators, internet service providers, content providers, and enterprise networks from over 100 countries. In Frankfurt, DE-CIX is amongst the largest internet exchanges globally, with an annual data volume nearing 40 exabytes as of 2023 and approximately 1,100 connected networks.
The measurement of terabits per second, denoted as Tbit/s or Tbps, quantifies the transmission speed of data. One terabit per second equates to 1,000,000,000,000 bits per second. The data traffic capacity of 18 Tbit/s can handle the simultaneous streaming of around 720,000 4K video streams, each with an approximate stream of 25 megabits per second, delivering a substantial volume of digital content efficiently.
This milestone highlights DE-CIX Frankfurt's role as a vital hub for global data traffic, driven by increasing demand for reliable, high-capacity, and low-latency connectivity to support the growing digital economy.
