June 2026 | Here's what's happened in the last month. (Reading time 4 minutes)
PeeringDB Shows that Automation Drives Network Interconnection Growth
by Leo Vegoda
Just as retail subscriptions automate consumer purchasing, PeeringDB is driving automation in network interconnection through APIs, working to remove manual steps from provisioning and configuration management. Over the last decade, interconnection has shifted from a niche service provider requirement to a vital operation for enterprises and governments alike.
PeeringDB is a freely available, user-maintained database detailing networks, data center facilities, and Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). It streamlines connection analysis and simplifies peering introductions via OAuth services, reducing friction by removing the need to manage external accounts. Today, listing on PeeringDB is non-negotiable; some operators refuse to peer with unlisted networks.
The platform's footprint has expanded massively over the past ten years. Network listings have grown fivefold to nearly 35,000, while IXPs have doubled to over 1,300 and facilities tripled to roughly 6,000. Data from June 2026 shows that 44% of all active networks now curate their own connectivity rather than entirely outsourcing to transit networks—a substantial leap from just 12% a decade ago.
Automation underpins this rapid scaling. Since adopting the IX-F JSON standard, PeeringDB has enabled IXPs to automatically report connection data. Nearly 8,300 networks now accept these automated updates. While the largest networks rely on their internal source of truth to push updates via the API, smaller networks benefit from delegating tasks like IP address assignments directly to exchanges. This includes over 4,000 subscriber access providers, 1,100 network service providers, and 700 enterprise networks.
Looking forward, PeeringDB is prioritizing data quality and refined automation features, introducing granular controls over IX-F inputs to isolate IP information from port configurations. Mandatory IX-F JSON generation for new IXPs is also expected to curb incorrect registrations and enhance database integrity.
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