The Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) is looking to establish a U.S.-based entity as a way to expand into the country, a move its board of directors voted to approve during their recent annual general meeting.
What drove AMS-IX's decision was an opportunity with the Open-IX initiative to build and expand Internet exchanges in the United States.
Two of the main goals of the Open-IX initiative, which was founded by a group of content providers, traditional telcos, and data center players, are to encourage the buildout of neutral and distributed internet exchanges and to reduce IP interconnection complexity and costs.
AMS-IX said that while establishing a presence outside of Amsterdam is part of its long term commercial strategy, setting up a legal entity in the U.S. will help it "minimize the possible risk for our members and customers and to become Open-IX endorsed."
Specifically, AMS-IX said that the legal entity will have to protect AMS-IX's current operations and the AMS-IX Association's customers and members from commercial, legal, financial and technical risks, and interception activities by U.S. government agencies.
European Internet exchange providers setting up shop in the U.S. appears to be an emerging trend.
DE-CIX, a Frankfurt-based IX operator, recently announced that it is extending its presence into the U.S. market by establishing a new Internet exchange in New York City.
For more:
- see the release
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