INEX
INEX is Ireland's sole neutral Internet Exchange Point, operating as a not-for-profit industry-owned association that provides IP traffic peering infrastructure across Dublin and Cork data centres, serving 90+ members including hyperscalers, ISPs, and CDNs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What INEX does
INEX (Internet Neutral Exchange Association CLG, Ireland No. 253804) is Ireland's sole neutral Internet Exchange Point, providing IP traffic peering facilities to network operators since its founding in 1996. Operating from six points of presence across data centres in the Dublin region—Digital Realty DUB1/DUB2, Equinix DB1/DB2/DB3, and Vodafone Willsborough—plus a regional exchange in Cork, INEX serves as a Layer 2 interconnection hub where 90+ member organisations peer their traffic directly to bypass expensive transit arrangements. The membership roster spans telecommunications providers (Vodafone Ireland, Eir, Three Ireland, Colt, euNetworks, HEAnet), hyperscalers (Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Netflix), content and security networks (Cloudflare, Akamai, Hurricane Electric), data centre operators (Equinix), and government networks (Irish Government Networks). The exchange handled 2.3 exabytes of traffic in 2025 against 8.9 Tb of connected capacity, reaching peak loads of 1.3 Tb/s.
The technology stack is anchored by IXP Manager, an open-source web application developed at INEX starting in 2007 and released under the GNU General Public Licence in 2013. The platform is now deployed at 265 Internet Exchange Points worldwide and facilitates the interconnection of approximately 13,500 networks. Supporting infrastructure includes route servers with full RPKI validation for secure internet routing (deployed February 2019), the Bird's Eye micro-service for programmatic looking-glass queries, an AS112 anycast reverse DNS service spanning Dublin LAN1, LAN2, and Cork, an Asymmetric Routing Detector, and a real-time Network Weathermap. The platform has evolved through major framework migrations—from Zend to Laravel (v4.9, January 2019) to PHP 8.4 mandates (v7.0.0, August 2025)—with API endpoints exposed for route-server status and BGP summary information. INEX holds ISO 27001 certification since 2023 and operates a 100G-capable core infrastructure built on Arista 7280R and Coriant Groove G30 platforms deployed as part of a €300,000 investment in 2017.
INEX is structured as a not-for-profit, industry-owned association (Company Limited by Guarantee) governed by a Board of Directors elected from its membership. Revenue flows from recurring port subscription charges—€4,200/year for the first 10GE port, €23,400/year for the first 100GE port on LAN1, €1,000/year for the first 1GE port on LAN1, and a €1,000 annual membership fee—with first 10GE ports on LAN2 and all Cork port connections offered free of charge. Port charges have been reduced annually for more than ten consecutive years, and surpluses are reinvested in infrastructure and services. The organisation participates in global internet governance through ICANN (host of ICANN84 in Dublin, October 2025), RIPE, Euro-IX, and APRICOT, and maintains patron relationships with the Internet Society, Netflix, Meta, APNIC, and CIRA.
INEX firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- INEX
- Legal name
- Internet Neutral Exchange Association CLG
- Website
- https://inex.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- INEX is Ireland's sole neutral Internet Exchange Point, operating as a not-for-profit industry-owned association that provides IP traffic peering infrastructure across Dublin and Cork data centres, serving 90+ members including hyperscalers, ISPs, and CDNs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
INEX industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Internet Exchange Point (IXP) / Network Peering Services
- SIC
- Communications Services, Nec (4899)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) & Peering Services (HDABALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Carrier Interconnection & Peering Exchanges (IXPs, private interconnect, cross-connect) (HDAIAEAG)
Keywords
Where INEX is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
INEX business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Port Charges: Recurring fees charged to members for port connections at various speeds (1GE, 10GE, 100GE). Port charges have been reduced annually for over 10 consecutive years, demonstrating commitment to member value. First 10GE port on LAN2 offered free of charge.
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for organizations peering at the exchange. Associate membership available for equipment/vendors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | 100GE Port - First Port |
| Subscription | Monthly | 100GE Port - Additional Ports |
| Subscription | Monthly | 10GE Port - First Port |
| Subscription | Monthly | 10GE Port - Additional Ports |
| Subscription | Monthly | 1GE Port - First Port on LAN1 |
| Subscription | Monthly | 1GE Port - First Port on LAN2 |
| Subscription | Monthly | 1GE Port - Subsequent Ports |
| Subscription | Annual | 100GE Port - 2017 Launch Price |
| Subscription | Annual | Membership Fee |
| Subscription | Annual | INEX Cork Connections |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
INEX product offering
Product offeringCore offering
INEX operates Ireland's neutral, member-owned internet exchange points in Dublin and Cork, providing network operators, ISPs, content providers, and CDNs with IP traffic peering facilities, port connections at 1GE/10GE/100GE speeds, and route servers with RPKI validation. INEX also develops IXP Manager, an open-source platform for managing IXP operations, currently deployed at 265 IXPs globally connecting more than 13,500 networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IXP Manager: Open-source web application platform developed by INEX for managing Internet Exchange Points. Now used by 265 IXPs globally.
Products and services
- INEX Peering (Port Connections)
- IXP Manager
- Route Servers with RPKI Validation
- AS112 Anycast Reverse DNS Service
Quantifiable outcome
- 2.3 exabytes of traffic handled in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use INEX
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
INEX technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
INEX partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, key and supporting.
- ICANNflagshipINEX serves as local host for ICANN84 Annual General Meeting in Dublin (October 25-30, 2025) at the Convention Centre Dublin. This follows INEX's previous local host role in 2015. The event focuses on future of internet governance and the New gTLD Program.
- IXP Manager Community (265 IXPs globally)coreIXP Manager, originally developed at INEX, is now the world's most used IXP platform serving 265 Internet Exchange Points globally. This open-source platform facilitates the interconnection of over 13,500 networks worldwide. INEX continues to lead and develop IXP Manager with support from the global community.
- Internet SocietykeyInternet Society is a patron of IXP Manager, supporting the ongoing development of the open-source IXP platform. Also served as Platinum sponsor for IXP Manager development round.
- NetflixkeyNetflix is a patron of IXP Manager and was a Platinum sponsor (2017-2019) supporting the open-source platform development. As a content provider, Netflix benefits from efficient peering infrastructure.
- SwissIXkeySwissIX is a Platinum sponsor of IXP Manager and a user of the platform for their peering operations in Switzerland.
- Norwegian Internet ExchangesupportingNorwegian Internet Exchange was a Bronze sponsor of IXP Manager development round and uses the platform for their IXP operations.
- Stockholm IXPsupportingStockholm IXP is an IXP sponsor of IXP Manager, supporting the global open-source platform.
- INX.ZA (South Africa)supportingINX.ZA (South Africa) is an IXP sponsor of IXP Manager.
- NAMEX (Italy)supportingNAMEX (Italy) is an IXP sponsor of IXP Manager.
- GRIX (Greece)supportingGRIX (Greece) is an IXP sponsor of IXP Manager.
- InterLAN IX (Romania)supportingInterLAN IX (Romania) is an IXP sponsor of IXP Manager.
- Facebook/MetakeyFacebook is a patron of IXP Manager, supporting the open-source platform development.
- CIRA (Canadian Internet Registration Authority)supportingCIRA is a patron of IXP Manager.
- APNICkeyAPNIC is a patron of IXP Manager and the Asia-Pacific regional internet registry. INEX CTO Nick Hilliard has published blog posts with APNIC on RPKI implementation.
- Euro-IX (European Internet Exchange Association)keyINEX contributes to Euro-IX initiatives including the IX-F Member List JSON schema. IXP Manager v5.1.0 included support for version 1.0 of this schema.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
INEX competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HKIX (Hong Kong Internet Exchange): Academic-rooted IXP operated by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. HKIX is a direct peer to INEX as a not-for-profit, neutral exchange serving regional ISPs and content networks with comparable route server and peering matrix services.
- DE-CIX: The world's largest IXP by traffic peak, headquartered in Frankfurt. DE-CIX is a direct peer to INEX as a carrier-neutral exchange serving ISPs, CDNs, and content networks with comparable route server and peering fabric services across multiple European and global locations.
- FranceIX: French neutral IXP serving ISPs, content providers, and hosting companies. FranceIX is a direct peer to INEX as a not-for-profit association providing peering infrastructure with comparable route server and member services offerings.
- INX.ZA: South Africa's largest neutral IXP. INX.ZA is a direct peer to INEX as a member-owned not-for-profit exchange and a confirmed sponsor of the IXP Manager platform, sharing both technology stack and operating philosophy.
- AMS-IX (Amsterdam Internet Exchange): Major European neutral IXP operating from Amsterdam. AMS-IX is a direct peer to INEX as a not-for-profit association offering similar route server infrastructure, peering matrices, and member-based governance for European network operators.
- NIX.CZ (NIX.CZ, z.s.p.o.): Czech Republic's neutral IXP, structured as a member association. NIX.CZ is a direct peer to INEX as a similar-sized neutral exchange serving a single national market with comparable member governance and route server infrastructure.
- SwissIX: Swiss internet exchange and a Platinum sponsor of IXP Manager. SwissIX is a direct peer to INEX as a member-owned neutral exchange using the IXP Manager platform, providing a near-identical operating model and technology stack.
- Netnod: Swedish IXP and critical infrastructure operator. Netnod is a direct peer to INEX as a neutral exchange providing IPv4/IPv6 peering and route servers, with a comparable member-owned ethos and focus on technical excellence.
- LINX (London Internet Exchange): One of the world's largest neutral IXPs, based in London. LINX is a direct peer to INEX as a not-for-profit, member-owned exchange providing carrier-neutral IP peering facilities across multiple UK locations, with comparable governance model and member services.
Broad incumbents
- Equinix Internet Exchange: Commercial global internet exchange service operated by Equinix across its data centre footprint. As a broad incumbent, Equinix competes with INEX by bundling peering with colocation services, but is commercial and for-profit rather than a not-for-profit association.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
INEX social profiles
Digital presenceINEX financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
INEX leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
INEX funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
INEX M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about INEX
What does INEX do?
INEX operates Ireland's neutral, member-owned internet exchange points in Dublin and Cork, providing network operators, ISPs, content providers, and CDNs with IP traffic peering facilities, port connections at 1GE/10GE/100GE speeds, and route servers with RPKI validation. INEX also develops IXP Manager, an open-source platform for managing IXP operations, currently deployed at 265 IXPs globally connecting more than 13,500 networks.
Is INEX a public or private company?
INEX is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was INEX founded?
INEX was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is INEX based?
INEX is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does INEX make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Port Charges are the primary driver. The others are membership Fees.
Who are INEX's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HKIX (Hong Kong Internet Exchange), DE-CIX, FranceIX, INX.ZA, AMS-IX (Amsterdam Internet Exchange), NIX.CZ (NIX.CZ, z.s.p.o.), SwissIX, Netnod and LINX (London Internet Exchange). Equinix Internet Exchange is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does INEX have an API?
Yes. INEX provides an API through Bird's Eye - a secure micro service for programmatic/query access to Bird daemons (route servers/collectors). IXP Manager uses Bird's Eye to provide a web-based looking glass. JSON API endpoints are available for route server status and BGP summary information (e.g., https://www.inex.ie/ixp/api/v4/lg/rs1-lan1-ipv4/status, /bgp-summary).
What industry is INEX in?
INEX's product category is Internet Exchange Point (IXP) / Network Peering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABALAC, Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) & Peering Services, with a secondary code of HDAIAEAG, Carrier Interconnection & Peering Exchanges (IXPs, private interconnect, cross-connect). Its SIC code is 4899.