Connection guide

Use this guide to prepare your network information and understand the path to a Carolina IX connection. An inquiry expresses interest; it is not a service order or a participation agreement.

The technical baseline is an Ethernet peering LAN supporting IPv4, IPv6, bilateral BGP, optional route servers, and IRR and RPKI-based route-server filtering. Locations, port options, pricing, and agreement terms will be published before orders open.

Who can participate?

Networks with a public ASN and their own routing policy, including ISPs, content and cloud providers, research and education networks, and enterprises. Facility and transport providers can also contact Carolina IX about access opportunities.

Connection information

For an initial introduction, send your organization, ASN, and Carolina locations or service area. Tell us which networks or services you want to reach. Approximate capacity and timing are helpful if known; a detailed connection design is not needed yet.

As you plan a connection, prepare the following details:

• Your organization and technical contact.
• Public ASN and PeeringDB record, when applicable.
• Current and planned Carolina router locations, carrier handoffs, and transport reach.
• Available access method: cross-connect, fiber, wavelength, carrier service, or remote peering.
• Requested port speed and growth horizon.
• Networks or content services you would like to reach. Do not include confidential traffic data.
• IPv4 and IPv6, routing security, monitoring, and maintenance requirements.
• Target turn-up timing.

Use your requested port speed as a planning estimate. Final selection depends on the published site options and your connection requirements.

Before connections open

Carolina IX will publish joining and technical policies, the service demarcation, support contacts, maintenance procedures, pricing, and agreement terms before accepting connection orders. The Technical page describes the information that the connection specification will cover.

Connection offers will distinguish Carolina IX charges from facility cross-connect, transport, optics, installation, or tax costs and identify the relevant service demarcation and support contacts.

Connection process

Once connection ordering opens:

1. Confirm eligibility. Meet the published joining and technical requirements.
2. Confirm the site and cost. Review the port, access path, fees, demarcation, and responsibilities with Carolina IX and any facility or carrier involved.
3. Complete agreements. Sign the participation terms, place the order, and obtain any required facility or carrier authorization.
4. Arrange access. Order and deliver the cross-connect or transport path to the agreed handoff.
5. Configure and validate. Configure peering LAN addressing and BGP, then validate filters, prefix limits, sessions, and routes.

Route-server participation is optional. Participants may also establish bilateral BGP sessions. Transit remains separate from Carolina IX.

Get in touch

Visit Contact to introduce your network, share your Carolina presence, or ask about facilities and transport. Include your ASN, locations, likely capacity, and target timing. Please leave out credentials, private keys, full router configurations, and sensitive incident details. The privacy notice describes how website and inquiry information is handled.