Hurricane Electric

What Hurricane Electric does

Hurricane Electric is a Fremont, California-based privately held internet backbone and colocation provider founded in 1994 by Mike Leber. The company operates AS6939, which it describes as the world's largest IPv6-native Internet backbone, delivering dual-stack native IPv6 and IPv4 connectivity to enterprises, cloud providers, content networks, and telecommunications service operators. Its backbone exchanges IP traffic with over 10,500 networks across 320 major exchange points worldwide, with a lean operating team of 51-100 employees supporting global infrastructure that spans North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and South America.

The company's core commercial offerings are IP Transit (publicly priced at $0.04/Mbps for BGP+IPv6+IPv4), Layer 2 Transport, Colocation, and Dedicated Server hosting. Beyond connectivity services, Hurricane Electric maintains an extensive suite of free network tools that double as community assets: the BGP Toolkit (prefix reports, peer reports, traceroute, RPKI/ASPA reports), a global Looking Glass with telnet-accessible route servers, Free DNS Hosting with DNSSEC and dynamic DNS, Tunnelbroker for IPv6-over-IPv4 tunneling, and a free IPv6 Certification program. The IPv6-native architecture is positioned as a foundational differentiator relative to retrofitted competitors, supported by an interactive 3D network map and direct sales with online quote requests.

The business model is subscription-based recurring revenue across all four core product lines, distributed through direct sales with online quote forms. Distribution is entirely direct, targeting enterprise and service-provider buyers. The company is founder-owned, with no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds, and has been actively expanding its PoP footprint into new geographies in 2025-2026, including Auckland, Toronto, and Durban, to extend global backbone coverage. No app, API, or AI/ML capabilities are part of the product surface.

Name

Hurricane Electric

Legal name

Hurricane Electric

Website

https://he.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hurricane Electric is a privately held, Fremont, California-based internet backbone and colocation provider operating AS6939, the world's largest IPv6-native backbone, serving enterprises, cloud providers, content networks, and service operators across 320 global exchange points.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Internet Backbone and Colocation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Network Backbone & Core IP Transport (Long-Haul/Metro IP) (HDAIAFAG)

Keywords

• Internet backbone services
• IP transit provider
• IPv6 native network
• Carrier-neutral colocation
• Network connectivity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. IP Transit Services: Provides global internet backbone connectivity with IP Transit services offering low latency, access to thousands of networks, and dual-stack native IPv6 and IPv4 connectivity. Offered at competitive pricing starting at $0.04/Mbps for BGP+IPv6+IPv4 transit.
2. Colocation Services: Carrier-neutral colocation services at Hurricane Electric facilities, providing enterprises with physical space, power, and network connectivity options.
3. Layer 2 Transport: Point-to-point and multi-point Ethernet transport services for connecting customer locations across Hurricane Electric's network footprint.
4. Dedicated Server Hosting: Dedicated server hosting services for customers requiring dedicated physical server resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hurricane Electric operates the world's largest IPv6-native Internet backbone (AS6939), providing global IP Transit, Layer 2 Transport, Colocation, and Dedicated Server services. Its network directly exchanges IP traffic with over 10,500 networks across 320 major exchange points worldwide, offering dual-stack native IPv6 and IPv4 connectivity to enterprises, cloud providers, content networks, and service operators. The company supplements its backbone services with free tools such as DNS Hosting, BGP Toolkit, Looking Glass, and IPv6 Certification.

Product overview

Hurricane Electric is an internet backbone and colocation provider operating the world's largest IPv6-native Internet backbone. The company offers a unified platform of network infrastructure services including IP Transit (dual-stack IPv4/IPv6), Layer 2 Transport, Colocation, and Dedicated Server hosting. The product portfolio includes free DNS hosting with comprehensive record type support and DNSSEC, IPv6 certification tools, Tunnelbroker for IPv6 connectivity, BGP Toolkit for network analysis, Looking Glass for route queries, and Network Tools applications. The core offering centers on global IP connectivity with access to over 10,500 networks across 320 major exchange points, supplemented by value-added network management and diagnostic services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IP Transit Global Internet Backbone IP Transit providing low-latency connectivity to thousands of networks with dual-stack native IPv6+IPv4 support, targeted at enterprises, cloud providers, content networks, and service operators.
• Layer 2 Transport Layer 2 point-to-point and multi-point Ethernet transport services for connecting customer locations across Hurricane Electric's network footprint.
• Colocation Carrier-neutral colocation services at Hurricane Electric's facilities, providing physical space, power, and access to the global IPv6 and IPv4 network backbone.
• Dedicated Server Dedicated server hosting services for customers requiring dedicated physical server resources with direct access to Hurricane Electric's backbone.
• Free DNS Hosting Free DNS management service supporting a broad set of record types with dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 query support, DNSSEC, smart mode reverse zones, slave support, and dynamic DNS update capabilities.
• IPv6 Certification Free online certification tool that allows network engineers to validate and demonstrate their ability to configure IPv6.
• Tunnelbroker IPv6 tunnel broker service that allows users to connect to the IPv6 internet over existing IPv4 connections.
• BGP Toolkit Comprehensive free BGP and internet routing analysis toolkit offering prefix reports, peer reports, traceroute, looking glass, DNS reports, exchange reports, RPKI/ASPA reports, and internet statistics for network engineers.
• Looking Glass Network looking glass service that allows users to query Hurricane Electric's routers at core locations for BGP routes, BGP summaries (IPv4/IPv6), ping, and traceroute, with public route server access via telnet.
• Network Tools App Network diagnostic and monitoring tools application providing utilities for network engineers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Direct IP traffic exchange with over 10,500 networks globally
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Open Access Data Centres (DUR1)coreTechnology or Integration · 27 February 2026Hurricane Electric established a new Point of Presence at Open Access Data Centres DUR1 facility in Durban, South Africa. The facility provides carrier-neutral colocation with access to regional and international telecommunications providers, enabling enterprises, cloud providers, and service operators in KwaZulu-Natal and Southern Africa to exchange IP traffic directly with Hurricane Electric's global network.
• Telehouse TorontocoreTechnology or Integration · 24 February 2026Hurricane Electric established two new Points of Presence at Telehouse facilities in Toronto at 151 and 250 Front Street West. The 151 Front Street location offers access to the Toronto Internet Exchange and high-speed connections to the financial district, while the 250 Front Street West facility provides cloud hosting and colocation services.
• Data Vault AucklandcoreTechnology or Integration · 25 November 2025Hurricane Electric established a new Point of Presence at Data Vault Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand. The new PoP enhances the company's global IPv6 and IPv4 network connectivity, aimed at improving internet services in the region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Zayo Group: Zayo operates a major fiber and IP backbone in North America and Europe, competing with Hurricane Electric on IP transit, wavelengths, and dark fiber, with a stronger enterprise wavelength and dark-fiber product mix.
• Arelion (formerly Telia Carrier): Arelion operates one of the world's largest IP backbones (AS1299) and is a direct competitor in global IP transit, Ethernet, and wavelength services, with comparable network scale to Hurricane Electric.
• Lumen Technologies: Lumen (formerly CenturyLink) is a global Tier 1 carrier offering IP transit, wavelength, Ethernet, and colocation with a deeper enterprise sales motion but more expensive pricing than Hurricane Electric.
• PCCW Global: PCCW Global is a Hong Kong-headquartered international carrier operating a Tier 1 IP backbone and competing with HE for IP transit, especially into Asia-Pacific and emerging markets.
• Cogent Communications: Cogent is a global Tier 1 IP transit and colocation provider competing head-to-head with Hurricane Electric on price-sensitive IP transit and metro Ethernet services to enterprises, ISPs, and content networks.
• GTT Communications: GTT is a global Tier 1 IP networking provider offering IP transit, Ethernet, and managed SD-WAN services; it competes directly with Hurricane Electric for international enterprise and ISP transit customers.

Broad incumbents

• NTT Communications (NTT Ltd): NTT operates a global Tier 1 IP backbone (AS2914) and offers IP transit, managed network, and cloud connectivity as part of a much broader IT services portfolio, competing with HE for enterprise and hyperscaler transit deals.
• Equinix: Equinix is the world's largest carrier-neutral colocation and interconnection provider; it hosts many of Hurricane Electric's PoPs and competes with HE's colocation product on data center space and cross-connect services.
• CoreSite (American Tower): CoreSite operates carrier-neutral colocation facilities across major US markets and is a key colocation partner/competitor to Hurricane Electric for enterprise colocation and direct cloud on-ramps.

Emerging players

• Hetzner Online: Hetzner is a European hosting and dedicated server provider that competes with Hurricane Electric's dedicated server product line, particularly for cost-sensitive SMB and developer customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/henet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hurricane-electric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hurricane Electric