UAE-based e& Carrier & Wholesale has announced a strategic partnership with global internet exchange operator DE-CIX to create a robust IX ecosystem in the Middle East. The collaboration will help turn the UAE into a major interconnection hub, connecting e&’s SmartHub IX data centers across the region to DE-CIX’s global network.
The partnership will enable SmartHub IX to benefit from DE-CIX’s extensive international internet exchanges, which span nearly 60 locations worldwide, including Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Nabil Baccouche, Group Chief Carrier and Wholesale Officer at e&, emphasized that the low-latency connectivity provided by SmartHub IX will ensure minimal delay in data transmission, promoting a more agile and efficient digital ecosystem.
DE-CIX CEO Ivo Ivanov highlighted that this collaboration would enhance the Middle East’s IX ecosystem by connecting it with other global IX systems, particularly in India, which unites valuable markets and strengthens the UAE’s ties with international interconnection networks. Ivanov also added that the partnership positions the UAE as the region’s interconnection hotspot, taking the Middle East to new digital heights.
As part of its efforts to expand SmartHub IX, e& is working on launching a remote peering service, collaborating with multiple IXs in the region, and aiming to scale it globally. This move aims to improve the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of network operations for businesses and service providers, further solidifying the UAE’s digital infrastructure.
