A Primer on Internet Exchange Points for Policymakers and Non-Engineers

28 Pages Posted: 12 Aug 2012

Date Written: August 11, 2012

Abstract

IXPs are becoming a critical part of Internet infrastructure, and the way in which an IXP is managed can impact an entire region’s Internet economy. However, IXPs are not widely understood by policymakers, regulators, and businesspeople. Our paper takes one additional step to help address this gap by discussing IXPs in a way that is approachable to this group — even if doing so through somewhat shallow, non-technical lens. In the end, we conclude that a deeper policy understanding about how different IXPs operate can improve the regional Internet economy, mitigate corrosive sectoral distrust, improve Internet quality, and benefit consumers.

Keywords: IXPs, ISPs, Competition, Telecommunications

JEL Classification: L96, K23, L4

Suggested Citation

Ryan, Patrick and Gerson, Jason, A Primer on Internet Exchange Points for Policymakers and Non-Engineers (August 11, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2128103 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2128103

Patrick Ryan (Contact Author)

Berkeley Law ( email )

United States
303-669-5710 (Phone)

Stanford University ( email )

Jason Gerson

Georgetown University ( email )

Washington, DC 20057
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
2,138
Abstract Views
12,484
Rank
13,363
PlumX Metrics