BNIX
BNIX is the Belgian National Internet Exchange, a neutral Internet Exchange Point operated by Belnet since 1995 that enables 78 ISPs, CDNs, cloud providers, and enterprises to directly exchange IP traffic across five Brussels-area data centers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BNIX does
BNIX (Belgian National Internet eXchange) is a neutral Internet Exchange Point (IXP) operated by Belnet, the Belgian government-affiliated research network, and has been in continuous operation since 1995. The platform enables direct interconnection between network operators — ISPs, CDNs, cloud providers, telecom operators, and enterprises — allowing them to exchange IP traffic via bilateral peering sessions or through a centralized Bird v2 route server. As of 2025, BNIX serves 78 participants across five Brussels-area Points of Presence (Interxion Zaventem, CenturyLink Evere, LCL Diegem, Unix-Solutions Zaventem, and Penta Infra Brussels), processing 288 Gbit/s of average traffic and a record peak of 642 Gbit/s. The technical stack includes 1G/10G/100G Ethernet ports, RPKI route validation, BFD sub-second failure detection, MAC filtering, and IXP Manager API endpoints.
BNIX monetizes its services through quarterly recurring port fees (10G ports at €220–€650/month, 100G ports at €1,000–€2,700/month), one-time setup fees (€1,500 for 10G, €4,000 for 100G), private VLAN endpoints (€200/month), remote peering via LU-CIX (€50/month), and a reseller program operated with partners such as VERIXI. Commercial activity is supplemented by indirect distribution channels and an annual networking event. Marketing is conducted through a participant testimonial-led content strategy, a newsletter, and direct enterprise field sales targeting ISPs, content providers, cloud providers, and telecom operators in Belgium. Notable participants include Proximus, Telenet, OVH, Akamai, Netflix, Microsoft, Facebook, Colruyt Group, and Colt.
As a non-commercial public-sector initiative, BNIX functions as critical national internet infrastructure rather than a venture-scale business. Its 30-year track record, MANRS membership, and co-founding role in Euro-IX provide institutional stability, while ongoing platform renewals, PoP expansion, and DDoS protection integration with NaWas demonstrate continued operational investment.
BNIX firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BNIX
- Legal name
- Belnet
- Website
- https://bnix.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- BNIX is the Belgian National Internet Exchange, a neutral Internet Exchange Point operated by Belnet since 1995 that enables 78 ISPs, CDNs, cloud providers, and enterprises to directly exchange IP traffic across five Brussels-area data centers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BNIX industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Internet Exchange Services
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) & Peering Services (HDABALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Carrier Interconnection & Peering Exchanges (IXPs, private interconnect, cross-connect) (HDAIAEAG), Interconnection-Focused Colocation (IX / Meet-Me-Room Ecosystems) (HDABACAF)
Keywords
Where BNIX is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
BNIX business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Port/Bandwidth Fees: Monthly recurring fees for network ports at various bandwidth capacities (10G and 100G). Ports can be purchased at full capacity or with flexible bandwidth limits. Volume discounts apply for multiple full-capacity ports. All prices billed quarterly in Euro.
- Port Setup Fees: One-time setup fees charged per request for physical port provisioning. €1,500 for 10G ports and €4,000 for 100G ports. When ordering multiple ports in one request, only the highest setup cost is charged.
- Private VLAN Service: Monthly fees for private VLAN endpoints at €200 per endpoint (excluding VAT) on existing ports, enabling direct Layer 2 connections between participants.
- Remote Peering with LU-CIX: Monthly fees for remote peering services connecting to Luxembourg Internet Exchange (LU-CIX) up to 2 Gbps capacity, with associated setup fees.
- Reseller Program: Resellers purchase dedicated ports to resell BNIX services to remote participants. Setup fees apply per additional remote participant, with the first participant free of charge.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Quarterly | 10G ports with flexible bandwidth capacity |
| Subscription | Quarterly | 100G ports with flexible bandwidth capacity |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Volume pricing for multiple full-capacity ports |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Port setup fees |
| Subscription | Monthly | Private VLAN service |
| Subscription | Monthly | Remote peering with LU-CIX |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Reseller pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
BNIX product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BNIX operates an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) enabling direct IP traffic exchange between network operators via Ethernet-based interconnection with port speeds from 1 Gbps to 100 Gbps. Participants peer bilaterally or through a centralized route server using BGP-4, with optional Private VLAN Layer 2 connections and remote peering delivered through authorized resellers. The platform is run by Belnet and is the primary neutral hub for Belgian internet traffic, serving ISPs, content providers, CDNs, cloud providers, and enterprises.
Product overview
BNIX is the Belgian National Internet Exchange (IXP) operated by Belnet since 1995. The platform offers a suite of internet exchange services centered around Public Peering (the core product enabling direct traffic exchange between participants), supplemented by Route Server BNIX for simplified BGP peering management, Private VLAN for dedicated layer-2 connections, Remote Peering for non-local participants via reseller partners, and a Reseller Program for partner-led service delivery. The platform connects approximately 78 participants including ISPs, content providers, hosting companies, and enterprises, processing 288 Gbps average traffic with peaks up to 642 Gbps.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Peering Physical interconnection at BNIX data centers enabling participants (ISPs, content providers, CDNs, enterprises) to exchange IP traffic with other participants through bilateral peering contracts or via the central route server.
- Route Server BNIX Central route server running Bird v2 that simplifies peering by enabling participants to exchange routes with all other connected participants through a single BGP session, with RPKI validation, IRRDB filtering, and BGP community-based prefix distribution control.
- Private VLAN Service Layer 2 point-to-point connection between BNIX participants using the same BNIX infrastructure, enabling direct access to each other's services (such as NaWas anti-DDoS) without additional cross-connect costs. Available on dedicated or shared physical ports at €200 per endpoint per month.
- Remote Peering Peering service allowing participants to connect to BNIX (and LU-CIX up to 2 Gbps) without physical presence at local exchange points, delivered through reseller partners who handle transport, port access, first-line support, and contractual obligations under one contract and one bill.
- BNIX Reseller Program Partner program enabling authorized third parties (such as VERIXI) to resell BNIX services to remote participants. Resellers purchase dedicated ports and extend BNIX reach to customers in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France, handling transport and first-line customer support while BNIX provides the underlying platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 19% traffic increase in 2025 compared to 2024, with average of 288 Gbit/s
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use BNIX
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
BNIX technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
BNIX partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Penta InfracoreBelnet and BNIX expanded capacity and flexibility through expansion to Penta Infra Brussels data center (BRU01) in late 2025, establishing new PoP presence for participants.
- NaWas (NBIP)coreBNIX and NaWas, NBIP's anti-DDoS service, joined forces in 2024 to create more reliable Belgian internet infrastructure. NaWas provides DDoS protection services that are accessible through the BNIX platform via private VLAN connections.
- LU-CIXcoreBNIX and LU-CIX (Luxembourg Internet Exchange) signed a cooperation agreement in 2022 to optimize internet traffic between Belgium and Luxembourg. This partnership enables remote peering services connecting the two IXPs, allowing participants to access both exchanges through a single connection. Joint traffic optimization benefits networks in both countries.
- MANRScoreBNIX joined MANRS (Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security) initiative supported by the Internet Society, demonstrating commitment to improving routing security on the internet through adherence to industry best practices.
- Euro-IXminorBNIX is a co-founder of the European Internet Exchange Association (Euro-IX), established in May 2001. Euro-IX gathers 73 IXPs from around the world to develop, strengthen, and improve the IXP community through collaboration and information exchange.
- VERIXIcoreVERIXI is an authorized BNIX reseller partner delivering Internet Access, VPN and Datacenter services since 2009. As an optical-fiber specialist with its own network, VERIXI provides remote peering access to BNIX for customers in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.
- BelnetcoreBelnet is the Belgian research network for higher education, research, and public services. Belnet established BNIX in 1995 and continues to manage and operate the platform. Belnet is located at WTC III, Boulevard Simon Bolivar 30, 1000 Brussels.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
BNIX competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AMS-IX (Amsterdam Internet Exchange): AMS-IX is one of the largest neutral IXPs globally, operating from Amsterdam with hundreds of connected ASNs offering public peering, private VLANs, and route servers — directly comparable to BNIX's service portfolio and target customer base of ISPs, CDNs, and content providers.
- Netnod: Netnod operates multiple IXPs across the Nordics and provides interconnection, DNS, and time services. Its IXP operations in Stockholm and other locations offer identical public peering and route server capabilities as BNIX.
- France-IX: France-IX is the leading neutral IXP in France, providing public peering, private interconnects, and route server services across multiple French PoPs. It competes for similar Western European network operator customers as BNIX.
- SwissIX: SwissIX is Switzerland's leading neutral IXP operating in Zurich and other Swiss locations. It mirrors BNIX's neutral, non-profit governance model and provides identical peering and interconnection services to a comparable European market.
- LINX (London Internet Exchange): LINX is a major London-based IXP with a participant base spanning global ISPs, CDNs, and content providers. It offers the same public peering, private VLAN, and route server infrastructure as BNIX, serving as a direct alternative for networks evaluating European exchange connectivity.
- MIX (Milan Internet Exchange): MIX is Italy's primary neutral IXP, founded in 2000 and operating multiple PoPs. It provides the same core service suite as BNIX — public peering, private VLAN, and route servers — to a similar ISP and content provider customer base.
- LU-CIX (Luxembourg Commercial Internet Exchange): LU-CIX is the Luxembourg IXP that signed a cooperation agreement with BNIX in 2022 to optimize Belgium-Luxembourg traffic. It offers comparable peering infrastructure and serves a similar small-market European IXP role.
- DE-CIX (Deutscher Commercial Internet Exchange): DE-CIX operates the world's largest IXP by peak traffic, headquartered in Frankfurt with global presence. It offers identical services to BNIX — public peering, route servers, private interconnects — and competes for the same European ISP, CDN, and enterprise peering relationships.
- NIX.CZ (Neutral Internet Exchange of Czech Republic): NIX.CZ operates the largest IXP in the Czech Republic, offering public peering, route servers, and private interconnects. As a neighboring Central European IXP, it competes for regional network operator relationships alongside BNIX.
Regional players
- PLIX (Polish Internet Exchange): PLIX is a Warsaw-based IXP serving Polish and Central European network operators. While operating in a different geography than BNIX, it offers the same neutral peering model and competes for pan-European content provider relationships that might otherwise choose BNIX.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
BNIX social profiles
Digital presenceBNIX financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BNIX leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
BNIX funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BNIX 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 BNIX
What does BNIX do?
BNIX operates an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) enabling direct IP traffic exchange between network operators via Ethernet-based interconnection with port speeds from 1 Gbps to 100 Gbps. Participants peer bilaterally or through a centralized route server using BGP-4, with optional Private VLAN Layer 2 connections and remote peering delivered through authorized resellers. The platform is run by Belnet and is the primary neutral hub for Belgian internet traffic, serving ISPs, content providers, CDNs, cloud providers, and enterprises.
Is BNIX a public or private company?
BNIX is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was BNIX founded?
BNIX was founded in 1995. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is BNIX based?
BNIX is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does BNIX make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Port/Bandwidth Fees are the primary driver. The others are port Setup Fees, private VLAN Service, remote Peering with LU-CIX and reseller Program.
Who are BNIX's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AMS-IX (Amsterdam Internet Exchange), Netnod, France-IX, SwissIX, LINX (London Internet Exchange), MIX (Milan Internet Exchange), LU-CIX (Luxembourg Commercial Internet Exchange), DE-CIX (Deutscher Commercial Internet Exchange) and NIX.CZ (Neutral Internet Exchange of Czech Republic). PLIX (Polish Internet Exchange) is listed as a regional player.
Does BNIX have an API?
Yes. BNIX provides API access through its IXP Manager platform, offering looking glass endpoints for route server status and BGP data. Public API endpoints include bgp-summary and status queries for route servers (rsbruevev4, rsbruzavv4). The API is available via https://ixpmanager.bnix.net/api/v4/ for participants to query routing information. Developer documentation is at ixpmanager.bnix.net.
What industry is BNIX in?
BNIX's product category is Internet Exchange 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 NAICS code is 518 and its SIC code is 7385.