What is IP Transit? A Complete Guide for Businesses and Network Operators
In today’s digital world, connectivity is everything. Whether you’re running a data center, hosting service, or enterprise-level business, understanding how internet traffic flows is critical. That’s where IP transit comes into play. But what exactly is IP transit, and why is it so important?
What is IP Transit?
IP transit is a service provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that allows traffic from your network to travel across the broader internet. In simpler terms, it gives your network access to the global internet by routing data through upstream providers.
With IP transit, your internet traffic is handed off to an ISP’s backbone infrastructure, which connects to multiple networks and carriers. This ensures your data reaches its destination—whether it’s across the city or on the other side of the world.
How Does IP Transit Work?
IP transit works using the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). BGP enables your router to exchange routing information with upstream providers. These routes tell your router how to reach other networks efficiently.
Once a BGP session is established between your network and the ISP, your network can send and receive data to and from the internet via that provider. The more upstream providers (or “transit providers”) you have, the more reliable and resilient your connectivity becomes.
Key Benefits of IP Transit
1. Global Internet Access
IP transit gives your network full access to the global internet—unlike peering, which typically only connects you to specific networks.
2. Scalability
You can scale your bandwidth as your business grows, making it ideal for data centers, cloud service providers, and content delivery networks (CDNs).
3. Performance and Redundancy
With multiple transit providers, you can ensure low latency, high uptime, and optimized routing.
4. Control and Flexibility
Through BGP, you maintain control over how traffic is routed in and out of your network.
The VPLS Team
VPLS is a global leader in Internet infrastructure, providing enterprise-class data center, network, and bare metal solutions that enable exceptional digital experiences. VPLS' global footprint includes interconnected data centers and Points of Presence across strategically located metros in North America, Europe, and Asia regions. Through organic growth and strategic acquisition, the company continues to expand its presence to power enterprise workloads at the edge. Evocative is dedicated to helping drive digital businesses forward, now and in the decades to come.
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