Doha, April 15 (QNA) - Ooredoo and DE-CIX announced that Doha IX, Qatar's first commercial Internet Exchange, is now directly connected to the DE-CIX Marseille platform, accelerating its development.

The link enables connected networks to exchange data with around 120 networks in Marseille and remotely access nearly 1,100 networks via DE-CIX Frankfurt, Europe's largest Internet Exchange.

The interconnection between Middle East and European platforms enhances access for Gulf telecom operators to cloud and connectivity services not previously available locally in Qatar.

Since its launch in October, Doha IX has operated under the DE-CIX as-a-service (DaaS) model and is hosted in Ooredoo's data centers. It allows networks to connect locally or via Marseille with global and regional cloud providers, content networks, and ISPs for secure, seamless data exchange.

With DE-CIX DirectCLOUD available through Doha IX, users can privately access leading cloud providers including AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Oracle, IBM Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud.

Organizations can also use the DE-CIX Cloud ROUTER to enable cost-efficient, low-latency data exchange across multi-cloud environments, improving connectivity between different service providers.

"The direct interconnection between the IXs in Doha and Marseille brings the world closer together," says CEO of DE-CIX Ivo Ivanov. "By providing even better performance and user experience for Internet-based content and applications, our collaboration with Ooredoo opens up new opportunities for Qatar's digital economy. Enhanced connectivity will further strengthen the digital ecosystem in the GCC, supporting economic growth and innovation, while paving the way for the amazing digital decades ahead of us."

"The direct interconnection between Doha IX and DE-CIX Marseille represents a strategic expansion of Qatar's global digital reach," says Chief Business Officer at Ooredoo Qatar Hassan Ismail Al Emadi. "By linking our national interconnection platform with one of Europe's leading Internet Exchange ecosystems, we are enabling differentiated digital performance through lower latency, enhanced resilience, and secure, seamless access to global cloud and content networks. This collaboration reinforces Qatar's position as a regional digital gateway and enables enterprises to operate with greater performance, reach, and competitiveness, accelerating digital transformation across Qatar and the wider GCC."

Doha IX serves as a neutral interconnection hub for network operators, offering high-performance, low-latency local connectivity and seamless integration with the global DE-CIX ecosystem.

It already provides advanced services such as Microsoft Azure Peering Service (MAPS), enabling businesses and government entities in Qatar to access SaaS applications like MS Teams and Outlook through direct, private connections.

The platform also offers a range of integrated services within Ooredoo's portfolio, including IP Transit, Multi-Cloud Connect, Google VPP, hosting and co-location, enterprise internet, precise timing, and international connectivity services. (QNA)