The London Internet Exchange (LINX) and Saudi Telecom Company have announced a strategic partnership that will see the launch of a new internet exchange in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The two firms will work together to launch JED-IX after striking a deal on 7 December 2018. The internet exchange serve as a neutral internet traffic exchange platform interconnecting global networks in the GCC region.
LINX will offer its expertise as one of the world’s largest internet exchanges to support the operation of JED-IX as it offers services to network operators and content providers in the Gulf from a fully redundant switching platform located in an STC data centre in Jeddah.
John Souter, CEO of LINX, said: "JED-IX driven by LINX is a real step forward for the Internet community in Saudi and the GCC as a whole. The exchange will allow networks to stop 'tromboning' traffic to London and back again, and will help increase resilience by creating a new centre for interconnection in the KSA.”
Kurt Erik Lindqvist, CMO of LINX announced, “The new partnership between LINX and STC forms an exciting milestone in the expansion of LINX global presence and builds on LINX’s aim of ‘Working for the Good of the Internet’ globally.”
For STC, which is Saudi’s incumbent operator and one of the largest providers in the Middle East, the partnership is part of its Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to establish the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a key hub for telecoms connectivity.
Alan Whelan, VP of STC Wholesale, said: “STC’s ambition is to develop JED-IX into the leading internet and data hub in the MENA region. In LINX we have a global leading IX partner who will help accelerate the delivery of this ambition and create a thriving interconnection eco system in the Kingdom.”