DE-CIX Expands in Brazil with New Internet Exchange in Rio

DE-CIX, one of the world’s leading Internet Exchange (IX) operators, has expanded its presence in Brazil with the launch of DE-CIX Rio de Janeiro, marking a new milestone in the country’s digital infrastructure growth. The new interconnection hub follows the success of DE-CIX São Paulo and represents a significant step toward creating a high-performance, interconnected network fabric across Brazil and beyond.

Now operational across multiple data centers in Rio, the exchange has already connected its first ten networks, including regional operators Sjnet Telecomunicações and Nexuslink Datacenter. The new IX gives local businesses, Internet service providers (ISPs), cloud platforms, and enterprise networks access to a neutral, carrier-grade platform for direct traffic exchange (peering) and multicloud interconnection – a critical foundation for modern digital services.

What makes DE-CIX Rio particularly notable is its seamless integration with DE-CIX’s broader global ecosystem. Networks peering in Rio can directly exchange traffic with those at DE-CIX São Paulo, DE-CIX New York, and other major IXs within DE-CIX’s global and North American interconnection frameworks. This connectivity fabric dramatically reduces latency for cross-border data flows, enabling faster, more secure, and more reliable communication between Brazil and international markets.

“Rio de Janeiro holds strategic importance for Brazil’s connectivity landscape,” said Darwin da Costa, Business Development Director Brazil at DE-CIX. “With our infrastructure, we aim to expand the region’s digital ecosystem – connecting the city to the world with efficiency, security, and high performance.”

The timing of this expansion aligns with Brazil’s rapid digital transformation and the increasing demand for dependable network performance. The country’s cloud and data center markets are accelerating at a record pace, driven by AI workloads, content delivery platforms, and enterprise digitization. By offering a neutral and scalable interconnection platform, DE-CIX enables both large operators and smaller providers to improve performance, reduce transit costs, and strengthen resilience – all essential in a market that is becoming a major hub for Latin American connectivity.

Enhancing Redundancy in South America’s Connectivity

Businesses already connected to the Rio exchange are anticipating significant improvements in performance and reliability, particularly for AI applications, cloud computing, and real-time digital services. The platform allows for direct interconnection between local networks and global players, bypassing traditional traffic bottlenecks and ensuring more consistent user experiences.

DE-CIX Rio is not only a boost for the city’s growing digital economy but also a strategic asset for Brazil’s position in global data exchange. It enhances redundancy and diversity in South America’s network topology – long dominated by northbound routes via Miami – by establishing stronger east-west and domestic interconnection alternatives.

Globally, DE-CIX operates around 60 IX locations across Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia, serving over 1,100 connected networks. Its Frankfurt exchange remains one of the largest in the world, processing nearly 45 exabytes of data annually. The company’s long-standing technical expertise and leadership in interconnection standards through bodies such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) have helped shape the global Internet’s reliability and scalability over the past three decades.

Founded in 1995 and celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, DE-CIX continues to position itself as a key enabler of next-generation Internet infrastructure – one where performance, neutrality, and resilience form the backbone of digital economies. The launch of DE-CIX Rio de Janeiro strengthens that legacy, cementing Brazil’s role as a gateway for secure, high-performance connectivity linking South America to the rest of the world.