Newly Nonprofit Vancouver Internet Exchange Moves Into Cologix Data Center

Vancouver Internet Exchange (VANIX), a network-neutral independent Internet exchange, has deployed a core node in a Cologix data center at 1050 West Pender Street. The data center provider's business strategy is providing network neutral Internet access in growing second-tier cities and the addition of the newly nonprofit, peer-run VANIX aligns with that strategy.

VANIX was recently restructured as an open, participant-run nonprofit exchange. A coalition of existing participants helped integrate the PEER 1 Internet Exchange with the BCNET-operated VANIX to create an independent exchange.

“Cologix is committed to the Vancouver peering community and is pleased to play our role in support of VANIX’s growth,” explained Graham Williams, chief commercial officer at Cologix. “We share VANIX’s conviction that nonprofit, participant-run exchanges provide the best results for its users and create an economic development tool for the broader community. Cologix looks forward to evangelizing VANIX to its customers and partners across the content, education and network verticals.”

Cologix partnered with VANIX through the exchange's reorganization process and is contributing space and fiber optic network connections between its facility on West Pender and the VANIX infrastructure at 555 West Hastings Street.

“We are excited to expand our reach with a core switch in Cologix’s new facility,” said Ron Grant, chairman of VANIX. “VANIX presently interconnects 43 IP networks, making it the second-largest IX in Canada. Moreover, Vancouver has a strong Internet community that is attracting increasingly more attention from major content providers interested in faster, more efficient Internet paths to British Columbia's 4 million residents.

"Cologix’s new data center has already proved a perfect fit to help us grow and attract new organizations outside British Columbia to establish a point-of-presence in Vancouver. Since recently connecting our facilities, we have brought compelling new organizations into the community."

Cologix recently expanded at the West Pender location, adding a second data center with 15,000 square feet of inventory. Vancouver is an important market for Cologix, which believes the market is underserved in terms of network-neutral colocation options downtown.

Vancouver is Canada’s third-largest market, home to more than two million residents and a plethora of technology companies. Vancouver has been a hot spot for film production as well, subbing for more expensive city locations, so there is a booming creative industry as well.