IXP Connectivity

Navégalo Internet Exchange (IXP)
The Interconnection Platform in Central America

At Navégalo, we are committed to improving network performance and reducing operational costs for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), content providers, and businesses throughout Central America. The Navegalo Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is designed to facilitate the exchange of IP traffic between networks quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively, offering a crucial resource for enhancing the region’s digital infrastructure.

What Is an IXP?

An Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is a physical location where different networks, including ISPs, content providers, and large enterprises, can interconnect directly to exchange internet traffic. Rather than routing traffic through distant data centers or costly international transit providers, traffic is exchanged locally through the IXP, reducing latency and costs for all participants. This results in faster and more reliable internet services, benefitting end-users and businesses alike.

How Navegalo IXP Benefits the Central American Region

The Navegalo IXP offers a range of key benefits for the Central American region, contributing to the development of more efficient internet routing, improving service quality, and significantly lowering the costs of interconnection. By facilitating local data exchange, the IXP accelerates regional communications and reduces reliance on costly international bandwidth.

Key Objectives of the Navegalo IXP:

1. Make Internet Routing More Efficient

One of the primary goals of the Navegalo IXP is to make internet routing in the region more efficient. By allowing networks to exchange traffic directly at a local level, traffic doesn’t need to travel long distances to reach its destination. This helps reduce the number of hops a data packet must take, minimizing latency and ensuring faster delivery of content.

2. Improve Quality of Service (QoS)

The quality of service (QoS) is a major factor for any ISP or content provider. By exchanging traffic locally through the Navegalo IXP, network congestion is reduced, resulting in a smoother and faster internet experience for end-users. This is particularly important for time-sensitive applications such as video streaming, online gaming, and VoIP services, where low latency and consistent speeds are critical.

3. Minimize Interconnection Costs

Traditionally, ISPs and content providers in Central America have had to rely on international transit providers, incurring high costs for routing traffic between countries. The Navegalo IXP helps minimize these interconnection costs by enabling local traffic exchange. This not only lowers operational costs for participating networks but also makes internet access more affordable for consumers in the region.

4. Accelerate Local and Regional Internet Communications

By enabling networks to exchange traffic within the region, the Navegalo IXP accelerates local and regional internet communications. Data traffic can be delivered more efficiently between neighboring countries, resulting in faster access to local content and improved connectivity across Central America. This regional optimization is essential for fostering the growth of digital economies and encouraging the development of local content providers.

5. Reduce International Satellite and Terrestrial Fiber Optic Latencies
Another key benefit of the Navegalo IXP is the reduction in reliance on international satellite and terrestrial fiber optic links. Routing traffic through international channels often leads to higher latencies, as data must travel long distances. By keeping traffic local, the IXP minimizes these delays, ensuring that users across Central America enjoy low-latency connectivity.

Current Latencies Between Costa Rica and Central American Countries

The Navegalo IXP has already made significant strides in reducing latency between countries in Central America. Below are the current average latencies between Costa Rica and various neighboring countries, illustrating the IXP’s impact on improving connectivity:

• Panama: 9 ms
• Nicaragua: 9 ms
• Guatemala: 19 ms
• El Salvador: 18 ms
• Honduras: 18 ms

These low latency times demonstrate the effectiveness of the Navegalo IXP in enhancing regional internet performance and ensuring faster communication between countries.

Why Join the Navegalo IXP?

If you’re an ISP, content provider, or a business with significant data traffic needs, joining the Navegalo IXP offers a number of advantages:

• Reduced Costs: Save on international transit costs by keeping local traffic within the region.

• Lower Latency: Enjoy faster response times and improved user experience with low-latency connections.

• Improved Network Performance: Benefit from more efficient routing and reduced network congestion.

• Business Growth: Leverage the improved connectivity to grow your business and reach customers across Central America.

Conclusion

The Navégalo Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is an essential resource for improving connectivity and reducing costs across Central America. By facilitating direct IP traffic exchange between networks, the IXP enhances the quality of service, minimizes latency, and helps businesses optimize their communications infrastructure. With fast, reliable connections between countries like Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, Navégalo’s IXP is driving the future of internet communications in the region.