MDC Launches a Carrier-Neutral Internet Exchange in McAllen for Peering With Mexico

The MEX-IX goes to market with several participants including the top CDN and Security providers in the industry, as well as two of the most important Mexican networks.

MDC, the leading carrier-neutral colocation provider on the U.S. border, announced today the launch of an Internet Exchange platform installed in its data center in McAllen, Texas, where the largest concentration of Mexican networks meets for interconnection. The platform is called MEX-IX and is the first IXP focused on peering with Mexico telco carriers in the U.S.

The MEX-IX enables service providers to operate more efficiently by delivering enhanced end-to-end network performance, improved speed and increased reliability while reducing overall IP Transit costs.

Mexico is the second-largest online market in Latin America on gaming, social media, video and music streaming services - only behind Brazil. We anticipate strong demand from content networks and Mexican ISPs for the MEX-IX.

Joel Pacheco, Marketing Director of MDC

The high density of core Mexican network PoPs in MDC McAllen makes this Internet Exchange feel local for peering networks of Mexico, which creates an exceptional opportunity for global ISPs and content providers to easily and effectively peer traffic and expand operations in Mexico from the U.S.

“Its strategic location and carrier density make McAllen a logical step one if you are looking to expand into Mexico. We are halfway between Dallas and Mexico City,” said Juan Salazar, CEO of MDC. “We are proud to be pioneers once again. The MEX-IX is the first exchange of its kind in the U.S. focused on enhanced connectivity to the Mexico market.”

The MEX-IX goes to market with several participants including the top CDN and Security service providers in the industry, as well as two of the most important Mexican telco operators. The exchange platform recently surpassed the first milestone of 10Gbps of peak traffic, which is unprecedented for peering networks in Mexico.

“Mexico is the second-largest online market in Latin America on gaming, social media, video and music streaming services - only behind Brazil. We anticipate strong demand from content networks and Mexican ISPs for the MEX-IX,” said Joel Pacheco, marketing director of MDC. “We created ideal conditions for peering to thrive, as requested by our customers in Mexico, to enrich our comprehensive suite of interconnection solutions.”

The carrier-neutral Internet Exchange platform was built following best practices and supported by a partnership with Asteroid, an interconnection platform innovator led by a team of well-known peering veterans.

MDC, formerly McAllen Data Center, has been successful in transforming the U.S. border with Mexico in a dense hub for carrier-neutral interconnection among international and Mexican operators. The company has facilities in McAllen, Laredo and El Paso, with plans to continue growing along the border.

Key Facts

  • MDC McAllen has the most carriers from Mexico connected in the U.S., which enables connectivity to multiple Mexican operators in one carrier-neutral data center.
  • The MEX-IX is built on a custom Arista switch and offers 10 Gbps and 100 Gbps port options.
  • The exchange platform supports bilateral and multilateral peering with route server.
  • The MEX-IX allows Mexican networks to peer traffic among them as well.
  • Operational performance is backed up by a carrier-grade SLA and 24/7 NOC support.
  • New port requests can be made online through the MDC Portal.

Additional Resources

About MDC

MDC, formerly McAllen Data Center, helps network operators, content providers and enterprises interconnect with major Network Service Providers on the U.S. border with Mexico. The company is considered one of the fastest-growing data centers in South Texas, presenting a unique offer of reliable colocation services with a fiber crossing infrastructure to bring networks across the border. Due to its geographic proximity to Mexico, MDC serves this emerging market allowing American and International carriers to connect to the largest concentration of Mexican networks in carrier-neutral facilities. For more information, visit mdcdatacenters.com and follow MDC Data Centers on LinkedIn and Twitter at @mdcdatacenters.

Source: MDC Data Centers