Critical Hub hooks up with Florida Internet Exchange
Critical Hub Networks President Carlo Marazzi
Critical Hub Networks announced Thursday that the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative has interconnected with the Florida Internet Exchange (FL-IX), a move that improves access to Internet content for Puerto Rico broadband users.
PRBI’s new 10 Gigabit connection to FL-IX adds additional direct connectivity for Puerto Rico broadband users to many core content and network providers, in addition to the ones Critical Hub already peers with, including Amazon, Apple, Google, Netflix, Twitch, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, GTT, Verisign, GoDaddy, Akamai and Microsoft.
“PRBI continues working to improve quality, performance and reliability of network interconnection for all of Puerto Rico’s Internet Service Provider Networks which participate at the PRBI’s Internet Exchange Point (IXP),” said Carlo Marazzi, president of Critical Hub Networks.
In April 2010, Critical Hub was awarded $25.7 million in Recovery Act funds through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration for the PRBI project to bring fast, affordable broadband service to all of Puerto Rico.
A key component of the PRBI project was the establishment of Puerto Rico’s first IXP, which facilitates peering and interconnection between Puerto Rico broadband networks and with major network operators and content providers.
Peering/network interconnectivity allows networks to directly exchange data with each other. This enables faster, more efficient and more reliable service.
“PRBI’s goal is the establishment of local peering between all broadband providers — including traditional wired broadband, fixed wireless and mobile broadband services. As Puerto Rico’s broadband networks upgrade to be able to deliver faster speeds, local peering becomes essential,” Marazzi said.
“Puerto Rico must ensure that its Internet networks are interconnected and autonomous, and can continue operating even if our communications off-island is interrupted,” he said.
In addition to the interconnection at the FL-IX, the PRBI also maintains interconnectivity with content and network providers in the PRBI’s IXP in San Juan and in PRBI’s Hub at the NAP of the Americas in Miami, Florida, Marazzi noted.
“Peering is a key piece of the puzzle in fixing Puerto Rico’s broadband woes. It will help to put Puerto Rico on a level playing field with the continental U.S. and international nations. We want to optimize and facilitate broadband for the island,” Marazzi said.
