INX-ZA, South Africa’s oldest internet exchange operator, has unveiled a significant infrastructure upgrade in collaboration with Nokia, introducing high-performance routing technology with up to 400Gbit/s throughput per platform.
The initiative, aims to bolster the nation’s digital backbone by enhancing connectivity and resilience for businesses and end users.
The upgrade will implement 400GE connectivity and expand 100GE services across INX-ZA’s internet exchange points (IXPs) in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
The rollout begins in Johannesburg at JINX, Africa’s oldest internet exchange, which has maintained 100% uptime since its inception in 1996. By the end of 2025, JINX will expand from seven to 10 data centers, with 30 high-performance platforms deployed in the first phase.
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“Internet exchanges are vital for local data exchange, reducing reliance on costly international bandwidth,” Nokia stated. “INX-ZA’s adoption of our 400GE solution ensures scalability, energy efficiency, and high-density infrastructure to support South Africa’s digital ambitions.”
While INX-ZA no longer holds the title of South Africa’s largest IXP—now claimed by Teraco’s NAPAfrica—it remains the longest-running, and these upgrades are poised to strengthen its role in delivering faster, more reliable internet connectivity nationwide. The enhancements will support growing digital demands, ensuring a future-ready network for South Africa’s evolving digital economy.
