Perhaps those who work for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or have studied internet networks will be familiar with the term IP transit. However, for those unfamiliar with the world of networking, the term may be quite unfamiliar. Understanding IP transit can be a helpful guide when deciding which ISP to use.
Before discussing IP transit further, we must first understand what IP transit is. IP transit is a data traffic service on a third-party network owned by an internet service provider. Each ISP has a different IP transit coverage, and this coverage is divided into three tiers.
ISP Levels
The first tier, ISPs providing IP Transit Tier 1, are those with global reach. This tier is comprised of only six major ISPs that collaborate to connect the internet worldwide. These six networks have a one-hop latency between each other and smaller networks that incur special fees.
The second tier, ISPs providing IP Transit Tier 2, are ISPs with large networks spanning multiple physical locations and data centers. Similar to Tier 1 ISPs, Tier 2 ISPs also collaborate with each other to expand their data delivery capabilities and avoid high Tier 1 costs.
The third tier, ISPs that provide Tier 3 IP Transit, are local or regional ISPs with a smaller reach and fewer clients. Providers at this tier typically purchase IP Transit in small quantities from Tier 2 providers.
Advantages of IP Transit Services
IP Transit services offer advantages that all network providers can take advantage of. These are the advantages of IP Transit services:
1. Faster Information Exchange
As explained above, IP Transit acts as a bridge between the data sending network and the data destination network. This reduces the number of steps required by the sending network because it eliminates the need for Tier 1 IP Transit. This improves latency and speeds up information exchange.
2. Direct Access to Vital ISP Infrastructure
One of the advantages of IP Transit services is that consumers can directly connect to the ISP’s critical information technology (IT) infrastructure. So, if consumers use IT services from an ISP while simultaneously utilizing their IP Transit, their internet connection can be as fast as the ISP’s own network. For companies or organizations, this advantage ensures a stable and consistent internet experience across any network, regardless of their location.
3. Redundant Connectivity
IP Transit services don’t just use a single connection path, but instead provide multiple paths from the ISP to the destination network. This is called redundant connectivity.
The advantage is that the internet connection is more secure from disruptions. If one path is disconnected or slowed down, the system automatically switches to the other path without disrupting the internet.
