History

FICIX was founded in 1993 by Eunet Finland Oy, HTC (Helsinki Telephone Company) and PTT (Posts and Telecommunications), which made an agreement on interconnecting finnish IP networks.

Hardware used for interconnecting and peering was a 10Base-2 hub initially, soon replaced by 10Base-T switch.

In May 1996 Ethernet technology was changed to ATM technology, which proved to be reliable. Port speed at this time was STM1 (155 Mbps).

FICIX2, the second IXP location, saw the daylight in 1999. Hardware was updated to support STM4-ATM, 622Mbps port speed.

In 2001, FICIX was re-organised as an association named as Finnish Communication and Internet Exchange, FICIX. By 2003 both Exchange points start to use Ethernet technology again, now gigabit Ethernet, and well worked ATM technology was abandoned. Also FICIX-1 in Espoo location got a root DNS server, i.root-servers.net was installed in cooperation with Swedish Autonomica AB.

In 2004 k.root-servers.net was installed in FICIX-2, Helsinki. This was done in cooperation with RIPE NCC.

In 2008 third IXP location were established to city of Oulu. The root-server at FICIX-3 is j.root-servers.net from Verisign.

At the moment (2009) FICIX uses Brocade and Extreme switch platforms. Available ports for peering contain both GE and 10GE options with standard optics.