* Richard A. Steenbergen (ras@e-gerbil.net) [010628 13:24] writeth:
AboveNet 198.32.176.11 6461 noc@above.net Exodus 198.32.176.15 3967 peering@exodus.net Global Crossing 198.32.176.29 3549 peering@gblx.net
These are the only large service provider networks I see listed. AboveNet would probably peer with a bum on the street outside PAIX if he could speak BGP, but AFAIK GBLX's requirements were at least 3 locations and bi-costal at a minimium. If I remember correctly Exodus is also slightly picky about its "ghetto peers", probably falling somewhere the middle of the other two.
I was incorrect to list Global Crossing. Again, the list I presented is based on my experience. I am just as willing to remove information as I am to add or correct it. Global Crossing has been removed. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused.
The rest of the list seems to basically fall into the categories of other "tier 2" regionals (Hurricane Electric, Maxim, etc), content looking for a way to save money on their transit bill (Hotmail, EA, etc), Asian networks who have a circuit to the US but aren't willing to cross it and will take any peers they can get (SingTel, KDD, etc), and misc small networks with little overwhelming value.
It was neither a cheap nor an easy proposition for us to get our router into PAIX. In fact, its probably the most expensive bandwidth I run since the DS3 is way under utilized. The main reason I did it was to reduce network distance to major peers. My only wish is that peering at all exchanges was more open, as it increases their usefulness. Finding another peering point where I can get 20+ willing peers like PAIX is a struggle.
Seems almost all the larger service providers are requiring at least bi-costal these days.
I may be able to extend our network into the east coast in 2002. However, as stated previously, peering requirements are a moving target. Once I can afford a DS3 to the east, I'm sure that I'll have to deal with new peering requirements that are just as hard to overcome.