ENDEAVOUR · Project

Smart Software Tools That Make Internet Exchange Points Flexible and Profitable

digitalTestedTRL 6

h2020-endeavour.eu

Imagine the internet as a giant highway system where different networks meet at big intersections called Internet Exchange Points. Right now, those intersections just let traffic pass through — they can't offer extra services like faster lanes or better security. ENDEAVOUR built software that turns these dumb intersections into smart ones, so the companies running them can offer new services to their customers. Think of it like upgrading a basic road junction into a full service station where data centers, cloud providers, and network operators can trade services with each other.

By the numbers

consortium partners involved in development

countries represented in the consortium

demo deliverables with implemented software

total project deliverables produced

industry partners in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Internet Exchange Points are critical infrastructure where networks meet and exchange traffic, but they operate as relatively simple switching fabrics with limited ability to offer value-added services. Operators cannot easily provide flexible routing, automated traffic management, or service marketplaces to their members. This means missed revenue opportunities and inability to meet growing demand for programmable, on-demand network services from cloud providers and data centers.

The solution

What was built

The project built and delivered a complete SDN architecture for IXPs (implemented, documented, and deployed at DE-CIX's test lab), a scalable network monitoring platform (also deployed and tested), and final software packages covering use-cases for both IXP operators and IXP members — totaling 8 demo deliverables and 24 deliverables overall.

Audience

Who needs this

Internet Exchange Point operators (DE-CIX, AMS-IX, LINX, and regional IXPs)Colocation and data center providers seeking programmable interconnectionCloud service providers wanting flexible peering and traffic managementManaged network service providers building SDN-based offeringsTelecom operators running private peering infrastructure

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Internet Exchange Point Operations

enterprise

Target: IXP operators like DE-CIX, AMS-IX, or LINX

If you are an IXP operator dealing with limited ability to offer value-added services beyond basic peering — this project developed a full SDN architecture deployed and tested at DE-CIX's test lab that lets you programmatically control traffic flows and offer flexible interconnection services to your members. The final software includes 8 dedicated demo deliverables covering use-cases for both operators and members.

Cloud and Data Center Services

enterprise

Target: Colocation and cloud hosting providers located at major IXPs

If you are a data center or cloud provider struggling to efficiently collaborate with other services at your exchange point — this project built a service marketplace concept on top of the interconnection fabric. The monitoring platform prototype was deployed and tested for scalability, giving you real-time visibility into traffic patterns and enabling automated service delivery across 9 consortium partners in 6 countries.

Telecommunications and ISP

mid-size

Target: Internet service providers and managed network service companies

If you are an ISP or network service company looking for more flexible peering arrangements and programmable traffic management — this project created SDN-based use-cases specifically for IXP members. The implemented software lets you define custom routing policies, automate traffic engineering, and access new services directly through the exchange point without manual configuration.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this SDN solution at our exchange point?

The project's EU contribution amount is not available in the dataset, so no budget figures can be cited. The software was developed as open research outputs, meaning initial licensing costs may be low. However, deployment would require SDN-capable hardware and engineering effort to integrate with your existing infrastructure.

Can this scale to production-level traffic at a major IXP?

The prototype SDN architecture was specifically deployed in DE-CIX's test lab to evaluate its scalability — DE-CIX being one of the world's largest exchange points. The monitoring platform was also tested for scalability in the same environment. These are strong indicators the solution was designed for real-world traffic volumes.

Who owns the intellectual property and can we license this?

The consortium of 9 partners across 6 countries developed this under EU Horizon 2020 RIA funding. IP is typically shared among consortium members. Contact the coordinator at Queen Mary University of London to discuss licensing or collaboration terms.

How does this integrate with our existing network infrastructure?

ENDEAVOUR was designed to work on top of existing Internet Exchange Point infrastructure using Software-Defined Networking. The 8 demo deliverables include final implementations for both IXP operators and IXP members, suggesting the software was built to integrate with standard IXP setups rather than requiring a full replacement.

Is this ready to deploy or still experimental?

The project delivered implemented and documented software for the SDN architecture, monitoring platform, and use-cases for both operators and members. Prototypes were deployed at DE-CIX's test lab. This puts it past the lab stage but it would still need adaptation for production deployment at a specific IXP.

What regulatory considerations apply to SDN-based exchange point services?

Based on available project data, the consortium included partners from 6 countries (BE, CH, DE, FR, SA, UK), suggesting the solution was designed with multiple regulatory environments in mind. Network neutrality and peering agreement regulations may apply depending on the services offered through the marketplace.

Consortium

Who built it

The ENDEAVOUR consortium brings together 9 partners from 6 countries, with a strong academic backbone of 6 universities led by Queen Mary University of London. The 2 industry partners (22% industry ratio) and 1 SME provide real-world grounding — notably, DE-CIX (a major global IXP operator) hosted the prototype testing, which adds significant credibility for commercialization. The inclusion of partners from Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, and the UK gives the solution exposure to diverse regulatory and market environments across Europe and beyond. For a business considering this technology, the DE-CIX connection is the most valuable asset — it means the software was tested against real exchange point requirements, not just academic benchmarks.

QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDONCoordinator · UK
THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGEparticipant · UK
IBM RESEARCH GMBHparticipant · CH
INSTITUT NATIONAL DES SCIENCES APPLIQUEES DE TOULOUSEthirdparty · FR
UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAINparticipant · BE
KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYparticipant · SA
UNIVERSITE PAUL SABATIER TOULOUSE IIIthirdparty · FR
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

Queen Mary University of London (UK) — reach the networking research group that led this project

Order a report on this consortium See QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can connect you directly with the ENDEAVOUR development team to discuss deployment, licensing, or custom adaptation of their SDN platform for your exchange point or data center.

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