DE-CIX boosts Dallas-Mexico backbone as traffic surges
DE-CIX is upgrading backbone connectivity between Dallas and Mexico after its Mexico exchange neared 200 Gbps in peak traffic and expanded its customer base across multiple data centres.
The capacity increase reflects rising cross-border demand from networks seeking access to US-based cloud, content and content delivery networks. The work focuses on the Dallas-Mexico route, a key corridor for traffic between the two markets.
DE-CIX Mexico has operated for a year and connects close to 30 networks through a distributed platform spanning five data centres in Mexico City and Querétaro. DE-CIX describes it as the country's second-largest exchange.
Peak traffic has reached nearly 200 Gbps, following growth of around 260% in the first months of 2026. Since launching in 2025, the exchange has carried 24 petabytes of traffic.
Mexico's internet market continues to attract investment in local interconnection as operators and content platforms aim to keep more traffic within the country. Internet exchanges support that shift by enabling networks to exchange traffic directly, reducing latency and reliance on long-haul transit links.
Cross-border route
The Dallas-Mexico upgrade points to sustained cross-border traffic growth. Dallas has become a major interconnection hub in the southern United States and a common landing point for networks extending into Latin America. For Mexican operators, it is also a gateway to a large concentration of cloud and content infrastructure.
The added backbone capacity is intended to strengthen cross-border access for networks using US-based cloud providers, content platforms and CDNs. DE-CIX also framed the project as part of its broader North American footprint, linking Mexico into its US and global sites.
The Mexico exchange uses a distributed design across Mexico City and Querétaro, spreading switching and access across more than one metro area. It also provides multiple traffic paths and reduces exposure to a single facility failure.
DE-CIX describes the platform as carrier- and data centre-agnostic, allowing networks to connect from different sites without being tied to a single facility operator. It says the exchange supports local traffic exchange, routing efficiency and resilience.
Services and customers
The customer base includes national and international networks, including internet service providers, cloud and content networks, and CDNs. DE-CIX noted that some global CDNs and gaming networks are still not locally available in Mexico, making cross-border interconnection important for access to those services.
DE-CIX also highlighted direct connectivity to cloud service providers, which it says gives Mexican enterprises access to resources across public and private environments with redundancy and availability features. It cited fintech as an example of a sector with demand for such connectivity.
The operator also offers a virtual Cloud ROUTER service, which it says enables cloud-to-cloud communication for organisations running multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud deployments.
The exchange's growth comes as streaming, gaming and cloud usage continue to rise in Mexico. Operators are also seeking greater control over routing and performance as they carry higher volumes of time-sensitive data. Internet exchanges can provide shorter paths between networks and an alternative to sending traffic through distant hubs.
"Our first year in Mexico confirms the strong demand for neutral, high-performance interconnection infrastructure," said Ivo Ivanov, CEO, DE-CIX. "The rapid traffic growth and rise in connected networks, making DE-CIX Mexico a critical part of the country's infrastructure, highlight both strong interest from the local peering community and Mexico's growing strategic role in cross-border interconnection and North America's digital future," said Ivanov.
Operators in Mexico are focusing on network performance and reliability across major hubs, according to DE-CIX Mexico's regional team.
"In Mexico, operators are prioritizing practical infrastructure improvements, lower latency, better routing control, and stronger resilience between key hubs. Becoming the second largest IX in the country in our first year shows that the community values a neutral and technically robust interconnection platform," said Omar Vega, Regional Sales Manager at DE-CIX Mexico.
DE-CIX runs internet exchanges in 60 locations across Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East and Asia. Its infrastructure is accessible from data centres in more than 600 cities and interconnects thousands of network operators, ISPs, content providers and enterprise networks in more than 100 countries.
DE-CIX expects further growth in connected networks and traffic volumes at DE-CIX Mexico to drive additional investment in cross-border and domestic interconnection infrastructure.