Interconnection: definition and challenges in an IT environment
Does your company use networks that pass through the public internet to transmit data or use cloud services? Find out what interconnection is and what it can do for your company in terms of security and performance.
Definition of network interconnection
What is interconnection?
Interconnection refers to the establishment of a direct, private link between separate network infrastructures. It allows two or more entities (such as your company, a cloud provider, or a data center) to transfer data between themselves in the most efficient and secure way possible.
Interconnection is therefore the means by which you can directly connect your corporate network to services hosted at UltraEdge, for example, or connect two of your own data centers to each other.
Key objectives: sharing, performance, resilience
Interconnection meets important objectives for your business. In particular, it allows you to:
• Pool resources: it allows you to share and access applications and data distributed across different platforms (public cloud, private cloud, data center, etc.) as if they were on a single local network.
Centralized resource management becomes a decisive competitive advantage. Today's businesses juggle multiple environments: critical applications in data centers, development projects in the public cloud, sensitive data in the private cloud. Interconnection allows you to orchestrate everything from a single console, reducing operational complexity by 40% on average. IT departments can thus manage their hybrid infrastructure projects without having to increase the number of specialized teams per platform, while maintaining complete visibility into the costs and performance of each environment.
• Increase performance: by reducing the number of gateways between networks and favoring optimized paths, interconnection reduces latency and increases throughput. This is particularly advantageous for sensitive applications, real-time computing needs, and the processing of large amounts of data.
• Enjoy service continuity: by creating alternative paths for data transfer and access to cloud services, services for your employees and customers remain accessible even in the event of an outage.
Private, public, hybrid interconnection: what are the differences?
There are three main types of interconnection:
• Private (or dedicated) interconnection: this involves directly connecting your company's networks to your cloud services. It is a more efficient and secure method. Private interconnection can be Layer 2 or Layer 3. Layer 2 connections enable local area networks (LANs) to be linked via virtual local area networks (VLANs). Layer 3 connections link wide area networks (WANs) via IP routing protocols.
• Public interconnection: this type of connection uses the internet and connects data centers, cloud services, and the company's local networks. The connection is less secure because it uses the public internet.
• Hybrid and multi-cloud interconnection: as its name suggests, this type of connection allows you to leverage both private and public links. This allows you to establish connections between your local network and different cloud providers or platforms.
Interconnection vs. connectivity
These two terms are sometimes confused, but they do not refer to the same thing. Connectivity refers to connecting devices to each other to transfer data via cables or an online solution (Ethernet, fiber optics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.). Interconnection, on the other hand, refers to connecting networks to each other.
Next-generation data centers go far beyond traditional network connections. The RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) protocol is a game changer: it provides direct access to the memory of a remote server as if it were local, with latency of less than a microsecond. For AI or intensive computing, this is the difference between instant processing and a sluggish system. The PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) standard, now in version 6.0, doubles bandwidth every three years and enables speeds of 256 GB/s for direct connection of GPUs, accelerators, and NVMe storage. These protocols transform data centers into true distributed supercomputers, where each server can access the resources of another as if they were its own internal components. For companies requiring extreme performance—high-frequency trading, scientific modeling, 3D rendering—these interconnect technologies make the difference between real-time processing and costly bottlenecks.
Interconnection and data centers: which strategy should you adopt?
Connection between data centers, clouds, and operators
An effective interconnection strategy involves directly connecting your IT infrastructure to the locations where your services reside. For example, you can opt for:
• Data center to data center (DCI) interconnection: this solution allows you to connect several data centers to each other in order to pool resources, copy data from one site to another, or guarantee service continuity in the event of a problem.
• Cloud interconnection: this involves connecting your corporate networks to a cloud provider's network. You benefit from a private connection that bypasses the internet for greater security and performance.
• A connection to operators: to access the networks of telecommunications providers and internet service providers (ISPs).
Your interconnection strategy determines your ability to operate effectively in France and across Europe. When a French company begins to look beyond its national borders, the issue of interconnection becomes central. To guarantee high-performance services throughout Europe, it is necessary to be able to rely on the right hubs: Frankfurt for financial flows, Amsterdam for digital platforms, Milan for industrial exchanges.
With a network architecture designed for expansion, applications can be deployed across the continent while maintaining latency below 30 ms—and, above all, remaining compliant with the regulatory requirements specific to each country.
Data centers located in close proximity to major internet exchange points (IXPs) offer a very tangible advantage: direct access to hundreds of operators and cloud providers without crossing new network boundaries. The result is significantly reduced transit costs and improved resilience thanks to the natural diversification of paths to end users.
Traffic optimization and reduced latency
By focusing on the interconnection between your network and your cloud services, you bypass the Internet. You therefore benefit from dedicated bandwidth and direct access to your cloud provider's network, making data transfers faster, smoother, and more reliable. Latency is reduced, even during periods of high traffic.
The energy issue is at the heart of debates surrounding high-power digital infrastructure. The CRE is actively working to facilitate the connection of data centers to the national power grid, recently approving a fast-track procedure for sites consuming between 400 MW and 1 GW. This initiative will speed up new interconnections to RTE's very high voltage grid, reducing delays by 2028-2029. For data centers, this development is key: maximized available electricity production capacity and speed of connection will determine the location of future digital infrastructure in France.
Interoperability between critical infrastructures
Interoperability allows different systems to communicate with each other in real time. By focusing on a high-performance interconnection strategy, you can be sure that your networks will work efficiently with each other.
Interconnection components and technologies
Peering, transit, cross-connect: what are the options?
Interconnection is based on different mechanisms:
• Cross-Connect: this is a physical cable connection that is both direct and private between two terminals located in the same data center.
• Peering: this is an agreement between two Internet networks to exchange their traffic. This allows them to benefit from each other's network access for smoother and more efficient exchanges around the world.
• IP transit: unlike peering, transit is a paid service. It involves bandwidth sold by an operator (ISP) to other customer networks. These networks can then access the Internet.
Switches, routers, IX: key elements
Switches manage traffic within a single network, while routers direct traffic between different networks by choosing the best path. As for the IXP (Internet eXchange Point), this is a physical infrastructure where many networks (ISPs, CDNs, companies) meet to exchange traffic locally. Their role is to keep traffic within a geographical area, such as France, in order to improve local performance and resilience.
Security, redundancy, and network monitoring
Dedicated interconnection is the most secure because it isolates your traffic from the public Internet. However, it is important to implement additional measures such as deploying a firewall and intrusion detection systems at interconnection points. To ensure service continuity, interconnection links must also be duplicated (N+1 redundancy), using different physical paths where possible. Finally, constant monitoring of link status is essential for rapid fault detection.
Technical and operational challenges
Scalability and network capacity
Your IT infrastructure must be able to evolve to keep pace with the growth of your data traffic. It is therefore important that your interconnection strategy is properly scaled from the outset and allows you to quickly increase data processing capacity when needed.
Cost, management, and contracting
Interconnection involves costs related to the rental of dedicated links as well as operator services. It is therefore important to establish a clear contract with strict service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure a high level of performance.
Maintien de la performance en environnement multi-cloud
In a multi-cloud environment, where you will be using several cloud providers simultaneously, interconnection allows you to avoid performance fragmentation. It directs traffic to the best location for each of your services. This way, the end user benefits from the best possible experience.
UltraEdge positioning
Operator networks & cloud-ready connectivity
By choosing UltraEdge, you are opting for a shared hosting provider whose data centers are located in France. This geographical positioning is a major asset for interconnection, as it allows you to benefit from very low latency for the French market. UltraEdge has also developed partnerships with major telecom operators to offer you optimal interconnection for all your services. With Cloud-Ready connectivity, you can easily connect to all your services without going through the public Internet.
Local and secure approach
With our 250 data centers located in France, we not only provide hosting for your shared servers, but also the most efficient and secure access route to these servers. Our interconnection infrastructure ensures that your data remains on secure paths to reduce your exposure to cyberattacks. Our services also comply with local standards and regulations, particularly with regard to the protection of personal and sensitive data.