RETN & BBIX extend Asian peering to Hong Kong, Singapore

RETN has expanded its partnership with BBIX in Asia, adding Hong Kong and Singapore to its existing arrangement in Japan, thereby widening interconnection options for international customers in the region.

The move extends a resale and peering relationship that has been in place in Japan. RETN acts as an official reseller of BBIX services and offers access to BBIX's internet exchange platforms.

Under the expansion, RETN customers gain new peering routes into Hong Kong and Singapore in addition to Japan. They can exchange traffic directly with a broader mix of internet service providers, content networks and enterprises present at BBIX exchanges in the three markets.

Executives at both companies link the deal to rising data and connectivity requirements from multinational businesses in Asia. These companies run data-heavy services and expect consistent performance across their regional operations.

The extended agreement aims to enable organisations to operate in Asian hubs without setting up their own physical infrastructure in each location. RETN positions itself as a provider that can bundle multiple network services into a single access point.

New Asian hubs

Hong Kong and Singapore are long-established regional telecoms and data centre hubs. Both locations host a dense concentration of subsea cable landings and carrier-neutral facilities, as well as cloud and content providers.

By adding these hubs, RETN deepens its presence in the main East Asian internet traffic corridors. The company already operates a Eurasian network that spans Western and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and reaches the border with China before extending into Southeast Asia.

RETN said the expansion creates more peering options for its customers in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. It expects this to support demand from enterprises that need consistent connectivity across multiple Asian markets.

The company said enterprises can enter these markets without the cost of building local access networks and without running their own racks in regional data centres. The model relies on shared infrastructure and remote access to internet exchanges.

BBIX operates 50 points of presence in data centres in Asia, North America and Europe. Its platforms are present in markets including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, the US, the Netherlands and the UK.

Flex IX rollout

As part of the extended relationship, RETN is introducing its Flex IX product at BBIX locations in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. The product combines remote internet exchange access and IP transit.

Flex IX runs on a single port. Customers can commit bandwidth once and use that port for multiple services. This approach separates physical connectivity from the services that run on top of it.

The product targets organisations that want flexibility in how they direct traffic between peering and transit. It also addresses customers who prefer a simplified commercial and technical interface across several markets.

RETN said its network is built on a coherent DWDM and IP/MPLS platform. It uses land routes to link Europe and Asia and includes multiple layers of redundancy.

William Manzione, Product Manager at RETN, said the enlarged partnership reflects the company's strategy for Asia.

"We are delighted to expand our collaboration with BBIX beyond Japan to include Hong Kong and Singapore. This milestone demonstrates our commitment to broadening our global service portfolio and supporting customers with access to Asia's vibrant markets. By combining BBIX's robust network with RETN's innovative Flex IX solution, we're delivering unparalleled connectivity options to our customers."

BBIX describes itself as an internet exchange service provider focused on low-latency interconnections. It promotes a model in which networks peer directly with key data centres rather than relying solely on upstream transit providers.

The company continues to expand its footprint through partnerships with local carriers and data centre operators in several regions. It has built an ecosystem that includes internet service providers, content companies and enterprises across its various locations.

Lisa Lu, VP, Global Business at BBIX, said the extended partnership aligns with BBIX's regional growth plans and reflects its experience with RETN in Japan.

"Our longstanding partnership with RETN in Japan has been highly successful, and we are excited to extend this collaboration into Hong Kong and Singapore. Together, we're better equipped to support international businesses seeking reliable and seamless connectivity in these dynamic markets. This expansion underscores our shared commitment to driving growth and innovation across APAC."

RETN and BBIX plan to continue building joint offerings at key internet exchange points as data volumes rise and more enterprises look for unified access to Asian digital markets.