CyrusOne has chosen the DTN platform by Infinera, which combines optical networking with digital switching, to connect internet-exchange at its Texas data centers to carrier hotels in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio and some of its customers' own locations.

The data center services provider is building a statewide Texas internet exchange, expecting to launch it at the end of this month.

Infinera's platform is based on 100Gbps photonic integrated circuits and features “bandwidth virtualization” technology. This adds elastic scalability to optical capacity, enabling it to be provisioned on demand, without lengthy lead times or complicated optical engineering, according to CyrusOne.

Josh Snowhorn, VP and general manager of interconnection at CyrusOne, said the technology gave it a robust platform for high-speed services that would ensure service flexibility, minimize bandwidth costs, simplify network operations and consolidate network architecture. “Infinera is one of the most respected optical telecommunications suppliers in the world,” he said.

CyrusOne first announced it would built internet exchanges at its facilities in January 2012. This was the start of its transition from a pure-play-colocation strategy to a strategy that emphasized interconnection.

The interconnection emphasis is a major component of the business strategies of many of the company's key rivals, including Equinix and Telx.

In September 2012, the provider announced it had chosen Brocade as the supplier of routers for its Texas internet exchange.

In January, CyrusOne shares started trading on Nasdaq, as the company's former owner Cincinnati Bell completed its plan to take the company public. At the same time, CyrusOne was converted into a real estate investment trust (REIT), a move that would substantially reduce the amount of corporate taxes the company would owe.

Its competitor Equinix is also going through the process of converting into a REIT.