Got Peers? The Importance of Choosing An ISP With Connections
Sydney Nation
Posted On March 24, 2025
In a previous blog we refreshed readers on the basics of how the internet works, defining how data may travel from its source to the device right in front of you. Some like to think of the internet as an information superhighway, where data packets are cars following map instructions (routing policies) to find their way. By this example, each stoplight to get to another road is a hop from one network to another, necessary for travel, but slowing traffic nonetheless.
Network hops are an inevitable part of data transfer over the internet, but using that analogy, peering partnerships are like on ramps, a quicker and more direct route for traffic to get from one road, or network, to another. It’s nice to take the scenic route every once in a while, but when it comes to internet traffic, you want a provider that’s connected and can get your data where it needs to go without getting stuck at every stoplight.
What Is Peering?
Peering, an agreement between two providers to exchange traffic directly, helps ensure more efficient connections between networks, reducing the number of hops needed and therefore allowing for optimized paths of travel from source to destination.
The Difference Between Peering and Transit
Peering and transit are often confused with each other because at the most basic level, they both involve transfer of data over the internet. The key difference lies in the parties involved:
- Internet Peering is an agreement between two ISPs, who expect to have a significant amount of traffic headed to the other’s customers, to exchange traffic directly.
- IP Transit is a commercial internet service provided by ISPs that enables access to the global internet routing table, allowing customer traffic to traverse multiple networks. BGP (Border Gateway Protocol), a standard protocol for exchanging routing information between different networks, is used to select the most efficient paths of travel.
In short, both peering and IP transit facilitate efficient data transfer benefiting end users, but peering is an agreement between two internet providers and transit is a commercial service provided by an internet provider to its customers.
Why Robust Peering Is a Differentiator for ISPs
Choosing a provider with robust peering can deliver key outcomes for organizations, improving overall network reliability and performance.
- Reduced latency: By creating direct connections between networks, peering minimizes the distance data has to travel. Reducing the number of hops in a path of travel means peering helps to facilitate more efficient data transfer and therefore lower latency, which is crucial for the real-time processing needed by applications that support things like live video calls and online gaming.
- Less congestion: Peering helps distribute traffic more efficiently, reducing the likelihood of congestion on any single network. This means fewer slowdowns and a smoother internet experience, even during peak usage times.
- Enhanced redundancy: With multiple peering connections, networks have alternative routes for data to travel. This redundancy ensures that if one path is congested or fails, data can still reach its destination through another route, improving overall reliability.
How Lumen Peering Is Different
Lumen selects peers based on factors that enhance overall network performance such as network size and reach. With deep, local peering in 90 metropolitan areas across 35 countries and 100+ on-ramps to cloud providers, we’re providing increased points of connection for our customers. Our strategy of interconnecting in both larger and smaller markets helps ensure availability and redundancy by prioritizing the most efficient routing of our customers’ traffic.
Additionally, Lumen® Dedicated Internet Access customers with BGP routing can leverage Microsoft Azure Peering for no additional cost, enhancing connectivity to Microsoft cloud services with optimal routing.
Finally, with the Google Gold Certification, Lumen delivers Google Verified Peering to help ensure optimal internet performance to support Google applications and redundant connections to the Google network.
Learn more about how Lumen, as a Google Verified Peering Partner, delivers reliable connectivity that can scale with your business.
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