Connecting a Stronger Caribbean: regional collaboration to create a content hub in the Eastern Caribbean
St. Eustatius – Saint Eustatius, Saba, Saint Martin, Saint Barths and Saint Kitts are now connected through the Eastern Caribbean Internet Exchange (IX), marking a major milestone in strengthening the region’s digital infrastructure. The expansion delivers on the ambition to establish a digital hub for the Eastern part of the Caribbean and contributes to a more connected and resilient region.
At the heart of this development is strong regional collaboration. Founded by EUTEL N.V., Saba Statia Cable System B.V. (SSCS) and AMS-IX, the Eastern Caribbean IX brings together local knowledge, regional infrastructure and international Internet Exchange expertise. EUTEL provides the local presence and infrastructure on St. Eustatius, SSCS provides the submarine fibre connectivity linking the islands, and AMS-IX provides the technology and expertise behind the Internet Exchange platform, enabling networks across the region and international content providers to connect and exchange Internet traffic directly and efficiently. Together, the partners have created an interconnection platform that now reaches across the Eastern Caribbean.
Keeping regional Internet traffic closer to home
Through the new IX, networks can exchange traffic more directly instead of sending data over longer international routes. Keeping more traffic within the region reduces latency, improves Internet performance and enables more efficient use of international connectivity. For end users in the region, this can mean faster response times and a better experience when using online services. This connectivity provides the foundation for a growing regional Internet ecosystem. The relevance of the exchange is underlined by the fact that one of the world’s largest content providers is already connected, bringing widely used content and services closer to local networks and their users.
Bringing critical Internet infrastructure to the region
The ecosystem is further strengthened by Packet Clearing House (PCH), an international non-profit organization that helps make the Internet more secure, reliable and resilient. PCH has established infrastructure at the Eastern Caribbean IX on St. Eustatius that allows essential Internet requests to be handled closer to users, rather than travelling to networks further away. This helps improve the speed and resilience of Internet services across the region.
“Internet Exchanges are fundamental building blocks of a healthy local Internet ecosystem. By bringing critical DNS infrastructure closer to networks and users in the Eastern Caribbean, we make Internet services in the region faster, more resilient and less dependent on distant infrastructure. We are pleased to be part of this collaborative regional effort,“ says Andrea Cima, Chief Operations Officer of Packet Clearing House.
Growing the regional Internet community
Connecting the five islands is an important milestone, but not an endpoint. The next ambition is to grow the community of Internet service providers, network operators, content providers and other digital infrastructure partners connected to the Eastern Caribbean IX.
As more networks join, more traffic can be exchanged locally, increasing the value of the exchange for the entire region. EUTEL, SSCS and AMS-IX will continue to develop the Eastern Caribbean IX and invite Internet service providers, network operators, content providers and other digital infrastructure partners throughout the Eastern Caribbean and beyond to join the growing interconnection community.
