IX.br, operated by NIC.br (the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee), runs 39 Internet Exchange Points across Brazil. The aggregate peak traffic surpassed 40 Tbps in late 2025, making it the largest IXP network globally by traffic volume. The São Paulo node alone exceeds 22 Tbps — more than any single IXP in Europe or Asia.
The infrastructure is strategically significant for data sovereignty: by enabling Brazilian ISPs, content providers, and cloud services to exchange traffic domestically, IX.br ensures that Brazilian internet traffic doesn't need to route through US or European infrastructure. This reduces latency, lowers costs, and keeps data flows within Brazilian legal jurisdiction — complementing the LGPD data protection framework.
IX.br's governance model is notable: it's operated as a not-for-profit public service by NIC.br, funded by domain registration fees rather than peering charges. This open, neutral model encouraged mass participation — hundreds of networks peer at IX.br, from large telecoms to small ISPs. The result is one of the most efficient national internet architectures in the world, where domestic content reaches domestic users with minimal hops. The decentralization trend is accelerating: Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro now each handle 4+ Tbps, reducing dependence on the São Paulo hub.