BIT's Core Network

Core Network

BIT operates a core network spanning six locations. A fibre-optic ring connects four of these locations: BIT-1 (Ede), BIT-2 (Ede), Interxion Science Park (formerly SARA) (Amsterdam) and Equinix AM7 (Amsterdam). Additionally, BIT maintains a presence in Frankfurt. At the two Amsterdam locations and in Frankfurt, BIT leases rack space. BIT-1 and BIT-2 are owned by BIT.

Redundant Design

The fibre-optic routes from BIT-1 to Equinix AM7 and from BIT-2 to Interxion Science Park were procured from different providers under long-term contracts with strict SLAs. These two fibre paths are physically separated along their entire routes, ensuring that excavation work or other issues can never disrupt both paths simultaneously. The fibre connection to Frankfurt doesn’t route through Amsterdam, meaning disruptions in Amsterdam won’t affect our – or your – internet connectivity.

BIT employs DWDM technology to transmit light at different wavelengths over the same fibres. This technology allows the connection capacity to scale as demand grows. To compensate for potential fibre failures, BIT uses a protocol that detects connection failures and automatically switches to an alternative path. This switching occurs so rapidly that connections remain unaffected. The routers are configured to route traffic through alternate routers if one should fail.

Peering and Transit: Agreements for Maximum Availability

Connections between BIT’s network and other ISPs’ networks can be established in two ways. With nearby ISPs, we can exchange traffic directly without third-party involvement – this is called peering. Such exchanges occur at Internet Exchanges (IXs). We maintain an ‘open peering policy’: we peer with any willing party at these Internet Exchanges.

For connections with more distant ISPs, we use transit partners – providers that connect us to networks not present at the same internet exchanges as BIT. We select transit partners based on their network quality and reach. For each connection, we maintain at least two transit partners, with multiple routes to the same connection within each transit partner’s network. Therefore, should any route or transit partner fail for any reason, we always have an alternative.

BIT’s IP network connects to the internet via multiple IP transit providers. Each transit connection links to our network at a different location. Additionally, BIT is connected to several Internet Exchanges: AMS-IX (the Amsterdam Internet Exchange, at two different geographic locations), NL-ix (the Neutral Internet Exchange, also at two different geographic locations) and DE-CIX (Frankfurt, the German Internet Exchange). BIT’s IP network supports IPv6.