DE-CIX Connected Site: A New, Low Barrier Opportunity for European Data Center Operators

As AI, cloud, and data demands surge across Europe, the DE‑CIX Connected Site model offers data center operators a simple, hardware‑free path to world‑class interconnection. Boost competitiveness, meet tender requirements, and unlock premium connectivity services – all with minimal investment and maximum scalability. Mareike Jacobshagen from DE-CIX introduces the new entry door for data centers to join the DE‑CIX ecosystem.

As demand for AI, cloud, and data‑intensive services accelerates across Europe, data center operators are under pressure to expand their connectivity capabilities without taking on disproportionate cost, risk, or time‑to‑market. DE-CIX’s new Connected Site model is designed precisely for this moment: a streamlined, hardware‑free pathway into one of the world’s largest and most advanced interconnection ecosystems.

For small and medium‑sized facilities, as well as growing colocation providers, becoming a DE-CIX Connected Site offers practical and scalable access to premium interconnection services – without needing to deploy DE‑CIX hardware onsite or commit to high fixed costs. It is the entry point of the DE‑CIX Data Center Solutions portfolio, enabling operators to strengthen competitiveness, meet tender requirements, and provide customers with access to high‑value services for cloud and AI workloads.

A simple, cost‑efficient path into the DE-CIX ecosystem

Connected Site enables a data center to gain instant access to the DE‑CIX interconnection ecosystem while relying entirely on its existing infrastructure. No DE‑CIX hardware is installed inside the facility. Instead, the operator uses its own DE‑CIX Access and organizes transport to a DE-CIX Point of Presence via a carrier of its choice.

This model keeps entry requirements deliberately lightweight:

• No additional hardware investment at the data center
• No DE‑CIX‑managed transport responsibilities
• Lower monthly fixed costs than being a full DE-CIX Point of Presence (Premium Enabled Site)
• Minimal revenue commitments for operators

Once connected, the data center is officially listed as a DE‑CIX Connected Site and is able to provide its customers with access to the complete DE‑CIX portfolio – covering peering, cloud connectivity, cloud routing services, and connectivity to GPU infrastructure operators and AI‑ready cloud ecosystems.

Boosting competitiveness for modern data center markets

For operators competing in Europe’s dynamic regional markets, the Connected Site model provides several strategic advantages:

1. Strengthened market position

Being listed as a DE‑CIX Connected Site enhances visibility, strengthens the data center operator’s brand position, and increases trust – especially among enterprise customers seeking reliable, low‑latency access to cloud and AI platforms.

2. AI‑ready and future‑proof

Becoming a Connected Site enables colocation providers to have direct access to high‑performance cloud and GPU providers, ensuring that their customers’ AI requirements can be served efficiently and reliably without the need to invest in expensive AI hardware themselves. This positions operators to participate in the rising wave of AI‑centric business models.

3. Ideal for tenders and enterprise demands

The solution allows medium‑sized or regional facilities to meet interconnection‑related RFP requirements. This is particularly relevant for organizations handling latency‑critical or data‑sensitive services

4. Risk‑free scaling model

Connected Sites can grow organically:

• Start with minimal investment
• Add customer bandwidth and services as demand increases (via InterconnectionFLEX or other Flex products)
• Upgrade to become a DE-CIX Premium Enabled Site when justified by traffic volume and customer base

The first customer to become a DE-CIX Connected Site is the German data center operator and managed service provider, firstcolo: “For our customers, stable, high-performance connectivity is crucial – particularly for cloud‑connect scenarios,” says Jerome Evans, Founder and CEO at firstcolo. “As a DE-CIX Connected Site, not only do we offer lower latency and controlled, sovereign connectivity to clouds and networks, but we also strengthen our position as a capable infrastructure partner for companies that want to scale their digital services and intelligent business models efficiently and effectively, while ensuring high availability.”

How the Connected Site works

Becoming a Connected Site is technically straightforward:

1. The data center establishes transport to DE‑CIX infrastructure (a DE-CIX Premium Enabled Site) using its preferred carrier.
2. DE‑CIX enables access to services from the remote site.
3. The data center manages customer‑side transport and VLAN separation.
4. Customers connect as if the data center had a DE‑CIX switch installed locally – but without any hardware deployment.

This preserves full control for the data center operator, while delivering the same high‑quality interconnection experience their customers would expect from DE‑CIX directly.

Growth potential for operators across Europe

The Connected Site setup is specifically designed as the entry tier in the DE‑CIX ecosystem, offering:

• Low‑risk market entry
• Validation of customer demand
• Scalable service expansion

As traffic and customer needs grow, operators can:

• Add Flex services to scale bandwidth
• Upgrade to a Premium Enabled Site with native IX presence and DE‑CIX‑managed transport and SLAs

For European operators, this flexibility enables strategic growth without overcommitting resources too early.

A gateway to one of the world’s most advanced IX ecosystems

DE‑CIX is present at 60+ global locations and is reachable from more than 600 cities worldwide. DE‑CIX Frankfurt alone handles nearly 48 exabytes of data annually (as of 2025), with almost 1,100 connected networks – making it one of the world’s largest IXs. Connected Site operators tap into this scale immediately.

This means their customers benefit from:

• Direct and secure access to cloud and AI platforms
• Improved productivity through enhanced performance and lower latency connectivity
• Improved business continuity
• Flexibility and automated scaling
• Global ecosystem reach on demand

A strategic advantage for Europe’s data center landscape

The DE‑CIX Connected Site model democratizes access to premium interconnection. It empowers European data center operators – especially small and medium facilities – to elevate their service offering, serve enterprises needing AI and cloud‑based infrastructure, and compete effectively in a rapidly evolving digital infrastructure market. By lowering entry barriers and enabling seamless scalability, the DE-CIX Connected Site is not just a technical solution – it is a growth engine for European digital infrastructure providers as the AI era unfolds.

Mareike Jacobshagen is Senior Manager Strategic Programs for the DACH, Benelux, and Nordic regions at DE-CIX, the world’s leading Internet Exchange operator. Prior to this, she was responsible for the Global Business Partner Program and, before that for the Partner Marketing Program, she joined the company in 2020.

She has many years of leadership experience in technology marketing for various well-known data center operators and software vendors, including Compuware, Interxion, and e-shelter. In the last few years, she has increasingly focused on the topics of digital infrastructure and interconnection and has given presentations on and discussed these topics at various events.

Mareike Jacobshagen studied History and German language and literature at the University of Hannover and holds an MBA from the University of Mainz.