European network operators are increasingly looking for integrated connectivity solutions rather than sourcing Internet Exchange, transport and IP connectivity separately, according to GNM, as customers place greater emphasis on operational simplicity and the ability to scale across multiple markets.
According to GNM, the share of new customer projects involving two or more connectivity services has increased from 15% to 36% over the past three years, reflecting a broader shift in how connectivity infrastructure is being planned and procured across Europe.
While operators have traditionally sourced Internet Exchange, IP Transit, Layer 2 transport and optical capacity from separate providers, customers are increasingly considering how these services can operate together from the beginning of a project.
According to GNM, this change is particularly visible when companies enter new markets or expand beyond a single location. Instead of evaluating only the price and technical specifications of an individual service, customers are also considering provisioning times, operational processes, support structures and the complexity of adding further capacity as their networks evolve.
“Several years ago, conversations would often begin and end with a specific requirement, such as an Internet Exchange port, an IP Transit connection or a transport circuit,” said Alex Surkov, Head of Business Development at GNM.
“Today, the first question is often different. Customers want to understand how their network can evolve over the next three to five years. They’re looking beyond the initial service and thinking about how additional markets, capacity and connectivity can be integrated without adding unnecessary operational complexity.”
Connectivity becomes part of a wider infrastructure decision
The shift reflects the growing complexity of European network deployments.
Regional ISPs are expanding into neighbouring markets, cloud providers and content platforms are extending their presence across Europe, and international carriers are looking for more efficient ways to interconnect regional traffic ecosystems.
As a result, Internet Exchange connectivity is increasingly becoming one component of a broader infrastructure strategy rather than a standalone purchasing decision.
According to GNM, customer engagements often begin with a single requirement but expand over time as network needs evolve. An operator may initially deploy Internet Exchange connectivity before adding Layer 2 transport, optical wavelengths, IP Transit or connectivity in additional markets.
The operational challenge is not necessarily the availability of these services. In many European markets, operators can choose from numerous specialised providers. The greater challenge is coordinating multiple contracts, provisioning processes, support teams and operational procedures as networks become more geographically distributed.
GNM says this trend reflects the way the company has operated for years, combining Internet Exchange, IP Transit, Layer 2 transport, DWDM wavelength services and backbone connectivity within a single operational environment. As customer requirements expand, additional services can be integrated without introducing separate operational frameworks or supplier relationships.
“Specialised providers will always have an important role in the market,” Surkov added. “What we’re seeing is a change in how customers evaluate complexity. They’re not simply comparing individual services anymore—they’re looking at how their infrastructure will operate over time.”
Rather than signalling a move toward single-vendor networks, GNM believes the trend reflects a broader shift in procurement priorities. As European infrastructure becomes increasingly interconnected, operators are placing greater value on solutions that simplify expansion while preserving flexibility and resilience.
About GNM
GNM is an international network operator providing Internet Exchange, IP Transit, Layer 2 transport, DWDM wavelength and backbone connectivity services. The company operates a privately owned 21,500 km DWDM backbone, interconnects more than 700 networks across 90+ Points of Presence, and delivers connectivity solutions for carriers, ISPs, cloud providers, content platforms and enterprise customers across Europe and beyond.
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