The Israel Internet Association (ISOC-IL), the nonprofit organization that manages Israel’s domain namespaces (.il and ישראל.) and operates the Israel Internet Exchange (IIX), has in recent months built a completely new, upgraded internet exchange that will operate and provide direct access at multiple sites across Israel. The new exchange has been established under the name IL-IX and will be operated by a corporate subsidiary created by ISOC-IL and led by CEO Avi Nagar and CTO Ariel Biener.
An internet exchange point (IXP) is a technological switching service that directly interconnects different networks in a given area or sector. It enables all parties connected to the exchange to exchange traffic at high speed, with minimal latency, and at low cost. To facilitate the exchange’s operation, ISOC-IL’s new company has installed infrastructure at several sites in Israel that are inter-connected by a high-speed transport backbone. Additional sites are expected to be added over time. Members of the exchange benefit from an efficient and cost-effective means of communicating with all other parties connected to it.
ISOC-IL, which has operated the Israel Internet Exchange IIX since 1996, has built the new exchange on a different technology model from the one used until now. While the legacy exchange allowed only Israeli licensed internet service providers (ISPs) to connect, IL-IX will allow any entity that has an Autonomous System Number (ASN) and physical presence in Israel to connect. This decision opens connectivity to global cloud services, content delivery networks (CDNs), and commercial enterprises such as banks, health service organizations, insurance companies, media services, cybersecurity services, and more.
The ISOC-IL Board approved the new exchange structure after in-depth strategic discussions over the past two years, led by Avi Nagar, Ariel Biener, and ISOC-IL’s CEO, Yoram Hacohen.
A number of significant changes that have occurred in the global and Israeli internet environments over the past few years led to this upgrade and improvement of Israel’s internet infrastructure:
- A regulatory change in which the Ministry of Communications significantly eased licensing for internet services in Israel. Under Amendment 76 to the Telecommunications Law, adopted about three years ago, most ISPs no longer require a license to operate and instead only need to be listed in a dedicated, legally mandated registry. This has increased the number of players providing various internet services in Israel.
- The significant entry of global cloud services into Israel and the launch of Israeli regions by Amazon, Google, and Microsoft as a result of the government Nimbus tender.
- A massive wave of dozens of new data centers being established in Israel, designed to serve local and global organizations that require robust interconnection among themselves and for their customers..
- Israel’s emergence as a transit corridor for international submarine fiber networks connecting Europe and the United States to the Far East, as an alternative to routing through the Suez Canal.
- The growing share of content providers, especially video and audio streaming services, in global internet traffic. This growth in traffic requires fast and inexpensive interconnection among market participants, which is precisely the role of an exchange.
Avi Nagar is a seasoned expert in communications and cybersecurity. He has led multiple initiatives and companies in these fields, served on ISOC-IL’s Board, and chaired the ISOC-IL’s Infrastructure Steering Committee. Ariel Biener is a veteran specialist in computer networking who has long overseen the operation of the Israel Internet Exchange (IIX) at ISOC-IL. He also serves as Head of Infrastructure and CTO at Tel Aviv University.
Yoram Hacohen, CEO of the Israel Internet Association and Chair of the subsidiary’s Board:
“A modern and efficient internet exchange is a crucial component of a country’s internet, especially in Israel. After operating under one model for 30 years, we determined it was necessary to change its operating model in terms of technology, operations, and legal frameworks. A wide range of local and international businesses are set to join IL-IX, exchanging domestic internet traffic and strengthening connectivity across Israel. Very soon, clients connected to the exchange will be able to use it to provide a variety of services, including cybersecurity solutions, AI services, content and more.
In addition, internet users in Israel will benefit from the enhanced service made possible through IL-IX’s operation. I believe that IL-IX, under the leadership of Avi Nagar and Ariel Biener, will drive a dramatic change in how the internet operates in Israel.”
Avi Nagar, CEO of Israel Internet Association Infrastructure Ltd., the subsidiary operating the new exchange:
“The new exchange we have built brings an important advancement to Israel’s internet market. It will allow both established and new players to build a wider range of services in a significantly cost-efficient manner, which will improve internet services in Israel. The new exchange is a platform for the necessary evolution of modern internet communications, which include ever-growing volumes of content services, a massive expansion in data centers and public server farms, and of course the expected growth with the exponential rise of AI services in Israel and worldwide. We believe that enabling customers who are not ISPs to connect directly to the exchange will improve internet services in Israel and will enable ISPs to enhance and expand their services without the need for additional investments.”
For more details (currently available in Hebrew), visit the official IL-IX website.