It is a withdrawal that raises questions: AMS-IX, one of the largest and oldest internet exchanges worldwide, is turning its back on the USA. Business there will end on March 5, 2026, the Amsterdam-based company announced. AMS-IX operates two internet exchanges in the USA: in Chicago and in the Californian Bay Area. The reason given is a desire to focus on markets with greater potential impact.
In the future, AMS-IX intends to shift its focus to emerging markets. "We believe our efforts are better placed elsewhere," says CEO Peter van Burgel. But the question naturally arises why expanding elsewhere excludes at least maintaining the existing presence in the USA. …
It is a withdrawal that raises questions: AMS-IX, one of the largest and oldest internet exchanges worldwide, is turning its back on the USA. Business there will end on March 5, 2026, the Amsterdam-based company announced. AMS-IX operates two internet exchanges in the USA: in Chicago and in the Californian Bay Area. The reason given is a desire to focus on markets with greater potential impact.
In the future, AMS-IX intends to shift its focus to emerging markets. "We believe our efforts are better placed elsewhere," says CEO Peter van Burgel. But the question naturally arises why expanding elsewhere excludes at least maintaining the existing presence in the USA. Did growth not meet expectations? Or is it the changed political framework, the changed relationship between the USA and Europe? AMS-IX does not elaborate on this. However, the operator wants to help customers in the USA with a smooth transition. AMS-IX is working with the Australian provider Megaport on this.
USA fatigue? No sign of it at DE-CIX
In total, AMS-IX currently operates 15 Internet Exchanges worldwide. These exchanges connect sub-networks of the internet, such as those of individual providers and companies, and are among the distribution points and lifelines of the network. AMS-IX entered the USA in 2013. The goal at the time was to establish the European Internet Exchange model, which focuses on neutral exchange points, in North America as well, says the company from the Netherlands.
At the German DE-CIX, on the other hand, there is no talk of USA fatigue. "The USA, in particular, is strategically important for us, as there is high demand for direct interconnection services, cloud connectivity, and new technologies such as AI-optimized infrastructure, and the market represents a stable, sustainable engine for growth and innovation," says DE-CIX CEO Ivo Ivanov in response to an inquiry from heise online. However, the announcement by AMS-IX once again shows how dynamically the market for internet infrastructure is developing globally.
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Emerging markets offer growth opportunities
The initial conditions for DE-CIX and AMS-IX in the USA were quite comparable: DE-CIX, which originated in Germany, even launched in the USA a year later than the Dutch, in 2014. According to its own statement, DE-CIX now ranks first or second in markets where it has its own exchanges. The company has built the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem in North America. US locations include New York, with the largest exchange in the Northeast and the fourth largest in North America, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Richmond, and Houston. And the signs point to expansion, says Ivo Ivanov.
However, the emerging markets that AMS-IX is now explicitly focusing on are also a major topic for DE-CIX. While Europe and North America are strategically important due to high internet traffic and strong demand, emerging markets complement this with their high growth potential and new use cases. "Our recent market entries in Brazil and further expansion in Southeast Asia and India show that we are seizing these opportunities," says Ivanov.
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(mki)
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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.