Data center services provider CyrusOne has launched its state-wide Texas Internet Exchange (Texas IX), a project that has been in the works at least since January 2012, when the company first announced its plan to build the exchange.

Its infrastructure is located in the company's Texas data centers in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The idea was to create an ecosystem of companies with enterprise and outsourced data centers, content providers, networks, carriers, internet service providers and Ethernet buyers and sellers all interconnecting at the CyrusOne facilities.

Josh Snowhorn, VP and general manager of interconnection at CyrusOne, said the platform opened up connectivity options for customers who were limited by the choice of telecommunication carriers available at one or another specific facility. “Now, customers can identify and configure connections with any provider or partner at any connected facility,” he said.

Along with the broad range of facilities customers can use to interconnect, the IX also gives them access to benefits of lower wholesale transit purchase costs and peering. CyrusOne offers reduced service costs and free Internet Exchange ports at all of its facilities and third-party carrier hotels.

CyrusOne used Brocade's MLXe Series switches to enable the exchange. The gear provides high-density 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 100 Gigabit Ethernet connections.

The system also uses Infinera DTN digital optical platforms for scalable point-to-point transport at up speeds of up to 2.5 terabits. “The combination of Brocade and Infinera offers a platform that elevates CyrusOne far above legacy Internet Exchange providers, creating the ultimate marketplace ecosystem,” Snowhorn said.

The company currently operates 24 data center facilities in the US, Europe and Asia. The company went public earlier this year in a successful initial public offering on Nasdaq.

Simultaneously with the IPO, CyrusOne, formerly a Cincinnati Bell subsidiary, was converted into a real estate investment trust (REIT).