The University Computing Center of the University of Zagreb (Srce) has launched the headquarters of the Croatian Internet Exchange (CIX) in the DC North data center in Varaždin.
The Croatian Internet eXchange (CIX) is a Croatian Internet traffic exchange center founded and hosted in Srce in 2000, and over the years the network infrastructure has been distributed to multiple locations. Thus, in 2016, a second CIX location was established in Zagreb, in the Digital Realty ZAG1 data center, and the launch of the third location in Varaždin is the result of the signing of a hosting agreement between Srce and DC North in October 2024.
"By further distributing the CIX network infrastructure, we are striving to achieve greater resilience and availability of CIX and provide CIX members with even better quality of service, as well as reliability and flexibility," emphasized Srce Director Ivan Marić.
CIX is open to all Internet service providers in the Republic of Croatia, using CIX reduces costs for Internet service providers and end users and enables the implementation of the highest quality network connectivity via the shortest route within Croatia. Since its establishment, over 1,800 PB of data have been transferred through CIX, and in 2024 alone, 322.7 PB of data were transferred, which is an 8% increase compared to the previous year. CIX currently has 38 active members.
The new CIX location provides CIX members with the same connectivity options and the same quality of service as at other CIX locations, with redundant connections to the other two locations with a bandwidth of 100 Gbit/s, with the possibility of further expansion in the event of an increase in member needs.
"The DC North data center in Varaždin is the holder of the Uptime Tier III Facility certificate and is strategically located at the northern gate of Croatia at the intersection of international optical backbones. It is located in the second critical zone from the city of Zagreb and with its 2,000 m2 of IT space spread over six DC rooms and a total available power of 4 MW, it provides its users with the most modern data center services strictly respecting the "Carrier-Neutral" concept," added Darko Pintarić, director of DC North.
Srce, the initiator of the establishment and coordinator of CIX since its inception, continuously provides technical conditions for interconnection and uninterrupted work. Thus, during the last year, the infrastructure was renewed and enough capacity was provided for users who want to expand the capacity of their connection from nx10 Gbit/s to 100 Gbit/s, with a technological step towards Ethernet VPN (EVPN), which was necessary for the new topology with 3 locations. With the recent alignment of CIX with the Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security (MANRS) recommendations, Srce is made another contribution towards a safer internet.
Since 2008, CIX has been a full member of the European Internet Exchange Association (Euro-IX), whose goal is to promote a culture of open exchange of ideas and experiences among its members.
