Equinix and AMS-IX Lagos Drive 200% Traffic Surge in West Africa

Equinix Inc., the world’s digital infrastructure company, has supported a growth in traffic of around 200%, increasing around 30Gbps to almost 100Gbps in just over a year since the implementation of its strategic partnership with AMS-IX (Amsterdam Internet Exchange) in Lagos.

There has also been a significant shift in traffic distribution on the exchange. Previously, Nigeria accounted for 85% of the total traffic, while the region contributed only 15%. However, regional traffic has now surged to 45%, reflecting remarkable growth and success in building a dynamic digital ecosystem that delivers faster, more efficient connections across West Africa.

AMS-IX Lagos has focused on attracting a diverse range of global and regional peers and bringing more content to the region. This exchange has accelerated regional interconnectivity, driven substantial traffic growth, and streamlined traffic flow across the region by enabling diverse ISPs, telecom carriers, and content providers to interconnect at a centralized platform.

The growing network includes new peers such as Zenlayer, Cedarview, China Telecom, AirtelTigo, Afribone, Virtual Technologies and Solutions, as well as major mobile network operators and internet service providers across West Africa, all joining global peers on the exchange. Talitha Mensu-Bonsu, Packet Core and Backbone Network Engineer at Airtel Tigo confirms; “Joining the exchange has unlocked tremendous value for our business by providing seamless access to content our customers demand”.

“Joining AMS-IX Lagos has enabled CDN77 to achieve a balanced and efficient network spread across West Africa,” added Jiri Prochazka, Head of Network Infrastructure at CDN77.

Oluwasayo Oshadami, Director, Solutions Architecture for Equinix Nigeria states “As a Data Center Operator in West Africa, our goal is to create a platform where everyone can connect and interact with each other easily. Out of Equinix’s data center in Lagos, AMS-IX Lagos Internet exchange has transformed connectivity into a competitive advantage for operators in West Africa thereby reducing latency, cutting costs, and fostering a thriving digital ecosystem where businesses and communities can interact and grow together.”

“It is truly remarkable to witness the ecosystem’s continuous growth monthly and the increasing value it brings to the region” says Wouter Ensing, Global Business Development manager at AMS-IX.

AMS-IX Lagos Internet Exchange remains focused on advancing the region’s interconnection infrastructure, aiming to serve an even broader range of network participants by functioning as a true regional hub. This partnership will continue to drive digital transformation, positioning AMS-IX Lagos as the preferred hub for CDNs, NSPs, ISPs, and MNOs across the region.