Frankfurt (Germany), 09 July 2025. DE-CIX, the world’s leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator, has today announced that GRASS-MERKUR and IP-Max are now part of the company’s premium partner ecosystem. GRASS-MERKUR, an IT, cloud, and data center service provider based in Hanover, and IP-Max, a Geneva-based specialist in IT services and network solutions, now offer their customers tailored DE-CIX interconnection services. These services span a broad portfolio, from peering to connectivity to more than 50 cloud providers, as well as enterprise services that connect offices, locations, and data centers with low latency and high bandwidth. The premium status is valid for two years and recognizes particularly successful partners. DE-CIX also offers exclusive benefits to these companies, including more attractive margins, personal support, and funding for joint marketing campaigns.
GRASS-MERKUR and IP-Max: Added services from the neutral DE-CIX ecosystem
“Together with DE-CIX, we offer our clients even more powerful and reliable interconnection services – the ideal complement to hybrid operating models supported by our colocation, cloud, and managed services,” says Markus Dietz, Head of Business Development, Sales & Marketing at GRASS-MERKUR. In April 2024, “HAN-CIX – powered by DE-CIX” launched in GRASS-MERKUR’s in Hanover data center. The cloud exchange is connected to the DE-CIX Frankfurt interconnection ecosystem, enabling high-performance, direct, and private data exchange between different cloud environments.
“This evolution of the long collaboration – we celebrate 10 years of the partnership this year – is an important step toward ensuring top-tier connectivity. Achieving premium status confirms our expertise and allows us to offer innovative solutions,” says Frederic Gargula, Chairman & CEO of IP-Max. In 2024, DE-CIX expanded and restructured its established partner program. Under the name R3 (short for “Resell–Refer–Reach”), the operator has since intensified existing partnerships with wholesale and resale partners and is also targeting managed service providers, system houses, system integrators, and IT consultancies.
30 Years of DE-CIX: Business success depends on partnerships and networks
The partner program includes customized extras such as worldwide 24/7 service, as well as a newly added AI-powered chatbot that not only answers questions about the portfolio but also supports and trains sales teams. “Business can only be successful with the support of partnerships and networks,” says Mareike Jacobshagen, Head of Global Business Partner Program at DE-CIX. “Whether data-driven business models or digitalized value chains — society and the economy rely on robust digital infrastructure. To meet the demand for secure, resilient, and neutral connectivity, IT service providers and Internet Exchanges play a key role.”
DE-CIX is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025. The company launched its first Internet Exchange in Frankfurt am Main in 1995. Today, DE-CIX offers its peering, cloud connectivity, and other enterprise-grade interconnection services at 60 locations across Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. DE-CIX is accessible from data centers in over 600 cities worldwide and connects thousands of carriers, Internet service providers (ISPs), content providers, and enterprise networks from over 100 countries. With a data volume of nearly 45 exabytes per year (as of 2024) and almost 1,100 connected networks, DE-CIX Frankfurt is one of the largest Internet Exchanges in the world. More information about the partner program (www.de-cix.net/en/partners) and the anniversary (www.de-cix.net/30years) is available online.
Other premium partners in the DE-CIX partner program include:
- Angola Cables – an international telecommunications provider from Angola operating a vast submarine cable network and offering connectivity solutions between Africa, Europe, and the Americas
- Arelion – operating the world’s #1 ranked IP backbone and offering a unique ecosystem of cloud and network service providers across North America, Europe, and Asia
- Cancom – a hybrid IT service provider in Central Europe, supporting customers to simplify complex enterprise IT
- Core-Backbone – a carrier headquartered in Germany, operating a global network
- envia TEL – a leading provider of digital infrastructure in Central Germany
- Epsilon – a global provider of network and cloud connectivity services headquartered in Hong Kong, focusing on software-defined solutions and interconnection
- RETN – a UK-based independent Eurasian network services provider, offering a wide range of connectivity services
- TelemaxX – a leading German regional provider of holistic solutions in the areas of telecommunications, data centers, cloud services, and managed services
- Türk Telekom International – a leading telecommunication operator in the CEE region, Turkey, Caucasus, Middle-East, and Asia
- V.tal – an end-to-end digital infrastructure solutions company and holder of the largest
- neutral fiber optic network in Brazil
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About DE-CIX
DE-CIX, pronounced DEE-KICKS [dˈi:-kˈɪks], is the world’s leading operator of Internet Exchanges (IXs). Founded in 1995, the company is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025. DE-CIX offers its interconnection services in 60 locations in Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. Today, accessible from data centers in over 600 cities world-wide, DE-CIX interconnects thousands of network operators (carriers), Internet service providers (ISPs), content providers and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries, and offers peering, cloud, and other interconnection services. DE-CIX Frankfurt is one of the largest Internet Exchanges in the world, with a data volume of over 45 Exabytes per year (as of 2024) and close to 1100 connected networks. Close to 250 colleagues from over 35 different nations form the foundation of the DE-CIX success story in Germany and around the world. Since the beginning of the commercial Internet, DE-CIX has had a decisive influence – in a range of leading global bodies, such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) – on co-defining guiding principles for the Internet of the present and the future. As the operator of critical IT infrastructure, DE-CIX bears a great responsibility for the seamless, fast, and secure data exchange between people, enterprises, and organizations at its locations around the globe.
About GRASS-MERKUR
GRASS-MERKUR is an owner-managed IT service provider, data center operator, and cloud service provider based in Hanover, Germany. For over 25 years, the company has been developing modular and future-ready IT infrastructure solutions for enterprises with the highest demands in terms of security, availability, and sustainability – especially those in regulated industries operating under KRITIS, DORA, or other compliance frameworks.
Its comprehensive and modular portfolio includes colocation, cloud, and managed services, powerful network services, and end-to-end IT security solutions – particularly for hybrid operating models. Complemented by hands-on consulting, GRASS-MERKUR supports its clients in implementing flexible, scalable, and compliant IT solutions.
With its own ISO-certified data center infrastructure, a strong partner network, and a high level of personal consulting expertise, GRASS-MERKUR stands for reliability, transparency, and tailor-made IT architectures – all from a single source.
About IP-Max
Founded in 2005, IP-Max SA has become a leading provider of information technology solutions and services across Europe. Its extensive portfolio includes IP Transit, low latency transport, metro- and international PoP-to-PoP connectivity, colocation, network management, and hardware supply. With over 20 years of experience supporting Internet service providers, the technical team at IP-Max has extensive expertise in developing a wide range of solutions, from creating small and local ISP platforms to building full FTTH platforms that can scale up to the size of an entire country. The overall quality of the IP-Max network is strengthened by its multiple connections across Europe making it the number one provider in Switzerland.
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