The UAE Internet Exchange (UAE-IX) has announced a significant upgrade in partnership with global leader DE-CIX, enabling support for extraordinary speeds of up to 800 Gigabits Ethernet (GE).
This initiative marks a “historic expansion” of fast data pathways in the region, as UAE-IX stands out as the sole center in the Middle East offering access points at 400 Gigabit speeds, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a vital hub for global internet connectivity.
To ensure the transfer of massive data volumes in mere seconds, the UAE is developing a “massive digital river” capable of flowing at 800 Gigabits, paving the way for advanced future technologies such as artificial intelligence, 8K video streaming, and smart cities that cannot afford delays.
According to data released by DE-CIX and the datamena platform operated by du, UAE-IX currently connects over 110 global and local networks and has experienced remarkable growth in data traffic, surpassing peak traffic of 1 Terabit per second, with a 35% increase projected for 2025 alone.
This substantial network demand is being managed effectively, with a total capacity for clients of up to 6.6 Terabits, making it undoubtedly the largest platform in the region.
Furthermore, the updates extend beyond just speed enhancements; they also encompass “cloud connectivity.” In addition to major companies already linked to the platform, such as Amazon (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, direct and proximity access to cloud giants Alibaba Cloud and Google Cloud will be introduced.