MGMix, Alabama’s sole Internet exchange, announced that it will boost its capacity to handle 100 Gigabits per second of traffic, making it one of the nation’s most powerful exchanges and positioning it to attract partners that move large amounts of data such as Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Netflix.

This upgrade places MGMix in the same class as other major carrier hotels such as 56 Marietta in Atlanta and 1650 North Stemmons in Dallas, connecting more quickly Montgomery, Ala., to the nation’s and world’s fastest exchange points.

“A 100-Gig Montgomery Internet Exchange is a game-changer for Montgomery’s cyber strategy,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said. “Nowhere else will businesses find such speed, and thanks to Akamai and the RSA Data Center, such security, in a competitively priced business environment where the technology workforce is being steadily reinforced with training and development.”

Less than two years ago, Montgomery landed the Cyber College of the U.S. Air Force and MGMix.  Today, Montgomery leaders released new developments and revealed a cyber strategy fueled by a 100-Gig public exchange and unprecedented collaboration between businesses, military, government and universities:

  • Auburn University at Montgomery signed a peering agreement to become the first university to join MGMix. For AUM, that means potential cost savings and more opportunities for large-scale collaborative research with other universities, placing Montgomery at the center of data-intensive research and innovation.
  • CoWerx46, a developer-centered co-working space, will open officially in June. The facility at 46 Commerce Street which will anchor Montgomery’s emerging innovation district, will become a home-base for the burgeoning tech community. It will offer quiet working space and fast, secure internet service, plus start-up training and community building programing.
  • Montgomery’s Cyber Consortium, the partnership steering the exchange, named Montgomery business leader Carl Barranco cyber strategy coordinator. He will develop and manage the effort to leverage MGMix to grow Montgomery’s cyber vertical as an economic development opportunity. The Warren Averett CPA has 50 years of experience and specializes in mergers and acquisitions in the banking, healthcare, construction and manufacturing industries.
  • A comprehensive cyber strategy will maximize Montgomery’s technology talent pipeline, spur innovation and promote the city as an emerging technology hub. It has built upon unique resources that are unparalleled in other communities, including a powerful collaboration between local and state government, the business community, educational entities, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Department of Defense. These partnerships have allowed Montgomery to strengthen significantly the MGMix, explore open data and smart city-smart base initiatives, set the cornerstone of an innovation district with CoWerx46, and become recognized widely for hosting the annual Air Force Information Technology Conference, one of the nation’s leading technology conferences.

“Partnership is at the heart of our strategy,” Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton Dean said. “We are excited about how government and business working together with our technology partners is making Montgomery stand out as an emerging tech hub.”

For more information on the Montgomery Internet Exchange visit www.mgmix.net.

For more information on Montgomery’s Technology Resources visit www.techmgm.com.
For more information on the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce visit www.montgomerychamber.com or find us on FaceBook.