Re: Viable Third Option?

[Eric Dugas via NANOG <nanog () nanog org>]

The details you mentioned about Cogent and HE are still right.

I'm managing an eyeball network and have Cogent in our blend but I also have three other Tier1s and VERY extensive 
peering (public and private). We have (from the cheapest to most expensive) Cogent, Telia, Zayo and Tata. I have to 
mention that we're based in Montreal so less choices compared to your market. The only two other Tier1s available in 
Montrea is GTT and Lumen/CL/Level3.
Cogent: difficult relations, good service overall
Telia: excellent relations, good service overall
Tata: good relations, good service overall
Zayo: difficult relations, good service overall

Eric
On Feb 17 2021, at 1:49 pm, Mike Hammett <nanog () ics-il net> wrote:
> This is from the perspective of an eyeball network. I understand that content networks would have different 
> objectives and reasons. For instance, I have little to no reason as an eyeball network to exchange traffic with any 
> other eyeball network (aside from P2P games). For a content network, getting into the eyeball networks is their 
> objective.
>
> My crystal ball tells me this thread will spiral out of control because people won't be able to keep it on topic, but 
> it is a question that I hear VERY often. I also expect a lot of purely bad or outdated information to get thrown out.
>
> Please try to keep it on topic and not being pedantic over relatively unimportant details.
>
> There are two major low-cost providers, Cogent and HE.
>
> Cogent
> Refuses to peer IPv6 with HE
>
> Refuses to peer IPv6 with Google
>
> Aggressive sales tactics
>
>
> Hurricane
> Doesn't have Cogent IPv6 because of Cogent's refusal
>
> Lack of communities for anything other than blackholes
>
>
>
> I know there are a variety of other providers such as Fusion Network that operate at similar price points, but are 
> available in way fewer locations.
>
> What else is out there? Anyone else that isn't 5x, 10x the cost?
>
> Cogent and HE get looked down upon (and sometimes deservedly so), but when I talk to someone trying to sell me a port 
> in 350 Cermak for 8x the cost of Cogent and HE, you better have a very good argument for why you're worth it... and 
> they never do. "We're not Cogent." "and?" Many times I'm quoted transit that costs more than Cogent + IX + HE and 
> they don't really have a good argument for it.
>
> As an eyeball, I join an IX and there goes 50% - 85% of my traffic and almost all of my traffic that anyone is going 
> to notice or complain about if there are issues (video streaming).
>
> I do understand that enterprise eyeballs may have different requirements.
>
>
> -----
> Mike Hammett
> Intelligent Computing Solutions (http://www.ics-il.com/)
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> Midwest Internet Exchange (http://www.midwest-ix.com/)
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