Global Internet Protocol (IP) traffic predictions are rising – industry experts are suggesting IP traffic might surpass the zettabyte threshold within a year, and move beyond that to two zettabytes per year by 2019. Experts predict the global IP traffic will increase at least threefold within the next five years, partially owing to wireless and mobile traffic which is geared to surpass the traffic from wired devices any day now. To fully understand just how much IP traffic is happening, all you need to know is this: the number of devices connected to IP networks is expected to be more than three times the global population in a few short years!

If your business relies on the internet you have to find a way to deal with internet traffic surges. If you do not have the right IP transit provider you will experience issues, as will your customers, and the lack of connectivity is sure to pose problems. You need to find a way to transmit data quickly, securely, and reliably. For many businesses, that involves backup transit from numerous IP transit providers in various locations.

If this sounds like a good solution to you, you need to be aware of what to look for in an IP transit provider, so you can get the best service for your money, and pass those benefits on to your customers. Here are a few things to consider in your search:

• International Internet Backbone – This is an extensive IP footprint that covers primary exchange points, customer and private peering ports, and major access and content networks on a global scale, letting you extend your reach to various destinations without taking complicated steps to do so. Your data will move quickly and reliably, meaning your customers will not struggle with connectivity issues. You’ll also benefit from the elimination of latency, packet loss, jitter, and outages.
• Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Services – BGP services are designed to exchange routing and reachability information between autonomous systems online. This allows you to identify what the shortest autonomous system paths are, so you avoid needless hops and deliver traffic quickly.
• AS Ranking – Look for an IP Transit provider that can maintain direct connections to between 4,200 and 5,589 ASs. The more unique AS connections your provider can maintain, the better your service will be overall. AS ranking is very important, so be sure to ask about it.
• Varying Connection Speeds – You will need a wide range of connection speeds, from Ethernet, to Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE), and 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GE). This ensures all of your bandwidth needs are covered in an easy-to-use manner.
• Flexible Billing – Whether you are a small business on the verge of making it big, or are already in demand, flexible billing can help you. Don’t pay for more than you need, but don’t settle for cheap services when you need something better. Look for flexible biling from your provider to ensure your budgetary needs are met.
• Rapid Turnaround Capability and Scalability – If you need something done for your business, you need it done quickly and reliably. Your IP transit provider should be able to bring you live within a matter of business days, and expand to reach your needs when they grow and change.
• Port Availability in Key Access Points – Your IP Transit provider should maintain connectivity to data centers and carrier Points of Presence (PoPs) on a global scale so you don’t ever have to worry about accessibility or direct routing to your key locations.
• Jumbo Frames – An IP transit provider that runs its network with jumbo frame (9000 byte MTU) capability can provide you with higher data throughput. How does this happen? Jumbo frames let you attain higher data speeds for large data transfers between distant locations, if both of those locations use the same IP Transit provider with jumbo frame capability. If you’re dealing with database synchronization, high-speed long-lived continuous streaming, big data, data warehousing, or site replication, jumbo frames should definitely be a consideration.
• IPv6 and IPv4 Transit – Dual-stacking capabilities, or IPv6 and IPv4 transit capabilities on the same connection, are becoming more common, and can offer you a great deal of benefits.
• Network Monitoring – As with any business issue, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your network. Look for an IP Transit provider that enables access to online monitoring tools so you can check in on connectivity, path, and routing information from various vantage points. This also assists your customers in verifying routing between providers.