DE-CIX hits record 68 exabytes in 2024 with gaming boost

DE-CIX has reported a record-breaking year in 2024 for global data traffic exchanged at its internet exchange locations around the world, with a total of 68 exabytes.

The increase represents a 15% rise from the previous year, when the figure stood at 59 exabytes. Over the last five years, data traffic has surged more than twofold, increasing from 32 exabytes in 2020.

The extraordinary volume of 68 exabytes is equivalent to streaming a football game in high definition continuously for two million years. On November 20, 2024, there was a one-off peak where data throughput hit 24.92 terabits per second, driven mainly by gaming releases such as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and updates to Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming platform.

This year saw gamers overtake traditional drivers like UEFA Champions League streaming in influencing data traffic records. The connection between the timing of the peak throughput and gaming-related releases suggests that these activities played a substantial role in attaining the new milestone.

Printing the entire 68 exabytes of data would equate to a paper stack 20 times the height of Mount Everest. More than 186.9 terabytes of data traverse DE-CIX internet exchanges every minute on a global scale.

The increase in data usage is reportedly driven by the continued expansion of internet-based and cloud applications. In 2020, 32 exabytes of data were exchanged, followed by 38 in 2021, and 48 in 2022. By 2023, this figure reached 59 exabytes, culminating in a 113% increase in traffic over five years across DE-CIX exchanges worldwide.

At DE-CIX Frankfurt, Europe's largest internet exchange, traffic reached a peak of 18.11 terabits per second in November. The location experienced over 45 exabytes of data throughput in 2024, up 13% from the previous year. This year marks the 30th anniversary of DE-CIX and its founding location, DE-CIX Frankfurt.

Throughout 2024, DE-CIX saw significant variations in the use of internet services. Video conferencing usage surged by 30% in the third quarter, declining slightly over the festive season. Streaming services maintained high usage, while online gaming showed steady growth, peaking during festive periods.

Regional data exchanges also witnessed growth. DE-CIX New York recorded over 4348 petabytes of data with a peak of 1.7 terabits per second, reflecting a 10% increase in 2024. DE-CIX Dallas reported 2630 petabytes, growing 50% with a peak of 1.35 terabits per second.

Ivo Ivanov, CEO at DE-CIX, commented, "In this, our 30th anniversary year at DE-CIX, we again see the enormous importance of interconnection for powering daily life for millions of people. Whether it's for communication, entertainment, learning, health, data-based products and apps, artificial intelligence, or the transmission of global sports highlights – the fast and secure connections at DE-CIX Internet Exchanges are essential for our modern way of life."

"Our Internet Exchanges not only connect people and communities worldwide, but also bring individual companies and entire economies together to do business," Ivanov added.

DE-CIX operates nearly 60 internet exchange locations across Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia, accessible from more than 600 cities worldwide. The exchanges interconnect thousands of network operators, internet service providers, and content providers from over 100 countries, offering various interconnection services, including peering and cloud services. DE-CIX Frankfurt stands as the largest internet exchange in Europe and one of the largest globally.