VICsubIX

VICsubIX is a community‑driven internet exchange point located in Victoria, Australia. The network was established in 2012 to provide a low‑latency interconnection service for local internet service providers, educational institutions, media organisations and hobbyist networks. By offering a shared physical infrastructure, VICsubIX reduces the need for organisations to rely on costly transit links and encourages routing optimisation within the region.

The exchange operates a series of fibre links that provide 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps ports. Peering operates under an open‑policy, allowing any connected participant to exchange routing announcements without requiring a settlement or traffic concession. The facility is managed by a volunteer core team that maintains the routing software, monitors traffic levels and coordinates capacity upgrades. Vendors supply the cross‑connect hardware and all maintenance tasks are carried out in partnership with local carrier facilities.

Operationally, VICsubIX uses Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) for route advertisement and supports both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic. Routing filters are minimal; the community relies on participants to maintain appropriate filtering rules to preserve network stability. The exchange also hosts a small web portal where participants can view real‑time statistics such as port utilisation, packet loss, and interconnect map. In addition to its technical functions, VICsubIX promotes a regional networking community through meet‑ups, workshops and educational outreach at local universities.

Because it remains a volunteer‑run, non‑commercial entity, VICsubIX focuses on fostering collaborative peering rather than generating revenue. Its continued growth reflects a demand for more resilient, cost‑effective connectivity solutions within Victoria’s diverse internet ecosystem.