DE-CIX takes majority stake in Bulgaria's BIX.BG IX
DE-CIX has taken a majority stake in BIX.BG, Bulgaria's largest carrier-neutral internet exchange, expanding the German operator's presence in south-east Europe and bringing BIX.BG into the DE-CIX group.
The deal adds Sofia to DE-CIX's growing Balkan footprint, which already includes exchanges in Istanbul and Athens. BIX.BG will operate as a subsidiary within the DE-CIX Group.
BIX.BG members will retain their existing services on current terms. Over time, the operators expect to introduce new services at the Sofia exchange.
Regional footprint
Internet exchanges are meeting points where networks interconnect and exchange traffic. They are used by telecoms operators, internet service providers, content platforms, cloud providers, and enterprise networks. The economics depend on scale and reach: more connected networks can mean more routes for traffic exchange and more options for customers.
DE-CIX operates internet exchanges across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. It says its services are accessible from data centres in more than 600 cities worldwide and that it interconnects thousands of networks from more than 100 countries.
Founded in 2009, BIX.BG has more than 130 connected networks. It has more than 11 terabits of connected customer capacity and peak traffic above 1.3 terabits per second, based on figures provided by the operator. The exchange is distributed across 10 points of presence in the Sofia metropolitan area.
DE-CIX and BIX.BG said the move extends a long-running relationship and that BIX.BG's management will be strengthened under the agreement.
Product expansion
DE-CIX plans to make its enterprise connectivity products available in Sofia, including cloud connectivity and cloud routing, adding to the interconnection services already offered by BIX.BG.
BIX.BG uses an EVPN/MPLS architecture and offers 400GE access ports. Its design emphasises distributed presence across Sofia, which can help participants seeking physical diversity across multiple sites.
The operators also framed the deal as a way to attract more international networks to Sofia. That could influence how much local traffic stays within the country versus taking alternative routes via other hubs.
Ivo Ivanov, Chief Executive Officer of DE-CIX, said:
"I am proud that DE-CIX has become a majority stakeholder in BIX.BG, Bulgaria's leading neutral and distributed exchange. The long-standing and trusted relationship with the BIX.BG team, operating an IX with technical and operative excellence on a par with that of DE-CIX, has led to the opportunity to unite the two companies."
He added:
"Partnerships such as this are always an exciting step for DE-CIX - supporting the integration of BIX.BG into the DE-CIX ecosystem, broadening the horizons for Bulgarian network operators, and solidifying DE-CIX's footprint in another European country. This business arrangement will enable both IX operators to play to their individual strengths - combining excellence in local peering in Sofia with the global presence of a world leader."
Local continuity
BIX.BG's leadership characterised the change as continuity for existing members, alongside broader opportunities as part of a larger exchange operator.
Dimo Nikolov, Chief Executive Officer of BIX.BG, said:
"BIX.BG was inspired by DE-CIX more than 17 years ago and we have built our exchange by consistently following industry best practices. This step is about strengthening BIX.BG's ability to deliver greater value to our clients and partners. By becoming part of the DE-CIX ecosystem, we will expand the opportunities available to networks connected to BIX.BG and support the evolving connectivity needs of the Bulgarian market."
"DE-CIX is the world's leading Internet Exchange operator, and its global expertise and ecosystem will complement the strong local platform we have built. Together, we will further strengthen Sofia's role as a regional connectivity hub while continuing to provide the reliable, neutral interconnection services our members expect."
"For our clients and partners, continuity remains key. My focus in the coming months will remain on delivering the best value to our clients and partners, while developing new capabilities that create additional opportunities for the BIX.BG community."