Consortium members include Interoute, TelecityGroup Italia, VueTel Italia, Milan Internet Exchange (MIX), NGI, SUPERNAP Italia, XMED and technology partner Italtel, and the OHM is designed to offer international carriers and OTT providers a multi-stakeholder model for the exchange of internet traffic in the region.
Marseille in France is the only existing independent junction point of submarine data traffic in the Mediterranean, and consortium members expect the OHM to stand as a unique international access platform that offers the same neutrality, reliability and security as Marseille.
“We believe that capability, security and resilience are fundamental features required to address the increase of internet traffic, particularly in an area such as the Mediterranean - a crossroads of submarine cables connecting India, the Middle and Far East to Africa, Europe, South and North America,” said a spokesperson for the founding members.
“Most of the international internet data traffic and worldwide combined voice-data traffic already travels through these submarine cables.”
When it becomes operational in early 2016, the OHM is expected to enable overseas operators to diversify their data traffic routes, cutting down on submarine routes in favour of safer land paths, as well as benefit from reduced latency.
