Software Defined Interconnect

Software Defined Interconnect (SDI) is a service that provides fast, automated, and virtual connections between a company's network and data centers, such as those offered by Equinix. It uses software-defined networking (SDN) to connect to services like Masslocal's Private IP network or Ethernet services, enabling quick deployment of cloud and data center applications without costly, time-consuming physical circuit build-outs. This solution allows businesses to scale bandwidth and manage connections more easily through a central console, with provisioning times often reduced to days or even minutes. 

How it works

• Virtual connections: SDI uses a virtual, software-based approach instead of dedicated physical circuits to connect to a company's existing Masslocal network.

• Automated provisioning: The connection is provisioned automatically through APIs, which significantly reduces the time it takes to get a new connection up and running compared to traditional methods.

• Access to data centers: It leverages platforms like the Equinix Fabric to connect to a wide range of data centers and over 200 cloud service providers globally.

• Flexible connectivity: SDI supports various services, including Private IP, Switched E-Line, and Ethernet Dedicated E-Line, and allows for scalable bandwidth up to 10 Gbps in select locations. 

Key features and benefits of Masslocal SDI:

• Rapid Provisioning It uses a software-defined networking (SDN) approach and APIs, in partnership with Equinix Fabric, to establish virtual connections in minutes or hours, as opposed to the weeks or months typically required for traditional physical network build-outs.

• Secure and Private The connections are established over Masslocal's secure private networks, such as its MPLS-based Private IP network, and are completely separated from public internet traffic. This helps ensure data security and reliable performance with service level agreements (SLAs).

• Hybrid Cloud Management It simplifies the management of hybrid IT environments (on-premises data centers, colocation centers, and multiple public clouds) by providing a unified and flexible way to manage connectivity.

• Scalable Bandwidth Customers can scale their bandwidth up to 10 Gbps on demand and manage connections dynamically through a portal or APIs, paying for the capacity they need rather than building out for peak usage.

• Cost Efficiency By eliminating the need for dedicated physical circuits, truck rolls, and manual provisioning, SDI helps reduce operational costs and capital expenditures.

• Global Reach It offers connectivity to over 200 cloud service providers (including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud) and more than 133 Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers worldwide. 

In essence, Masslocal SDI removes barriers to digital transformation by allowing enterprises to quickly, securely, and flexibly connect their distributed IT ecosystems

Explain how this works, starting from the perspective of an enterprise customer.

From an enterprise customer's perspective, Masslocal Software Defined Interconnect (SDI) works by transforming a typically slow, manual process of connecting networks into a fast, on-demand, and automated experience. It feels less like traditional telecom provisioning and more like ordering a utility or a cloud service. 

Here is a step-by-step explanation of the process:

1. Existing Infrastructure (Prerequisites)

Before using SDI, the enterprise customer must have two things in place: 

• An existing private network service with Masslocal, such as a Masslocal Private IP (MPLS) network, Switched E-Line, or E-LAN.

• An account and physical presence (colocation cage) within an Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data center, where their IT resources or connections to Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) are located. 

2. The "No-Touch" Provisioning Process

The magic happens via a software integration between Masslocal and Equinix: 

• Pre-Provisioned Network Interface: Masslocal and Equinix have established a physical Network-to-Network Interface (NNI) – essentially a high-capacity fiber connection – already installed and ready at numerous Equinix data centers globally. This eliminates the months-long lead time needed to order and physically install a new, dedicated access circuit.

• API Automation: An Application Programming Interface (API) acts as a digital bridge between the Masslocal management portal and the Equinix Fabric control plane. This allows the systems to talk to each other without human intervention for each individual connection request. 

3. Customer Actions (The Easy Part)

The customer interacts with the service through management portals (either Masslocal's Dynamic Network Manager tool or the Equinix Customer Portal):

• Log In and Select Services: The customer logs into their portal and selects the desired service (e.g., connecting their Private IP network to a specific colocation resource or cloud provider).

• Specify Parameters: They define the connection parameters, such as the target Equinix metro location and the required bandwidth (up to 10 Gbps).

• Instant Activation: Because the physical infrastructure is pre-provisioned and the API automates the configuration, the secure, private connection is activated in minutes, not weeks. There are no truck rolls or physical equipment installations needed on the customer end. 

4. Dynamic Management and Control

Once connected, the customer gains full control and flexibility:

• On-Demand Scaling: They can use the portal or APIs to increase or decrease the bandwidth allocated to their connections dynamically as business needs change, such as scaling up for a data migration or a seasonal peak in demand.

• Hybrid IT Management: The customer manages these new connections as a seamless extension of their existing private network, allowing them to support a hybrid environment of on-premises, colocation, and cloud resources effortlessly.

• Cost Efficiency: The customer moves to a more flexible, potentially consumption-based pricing model, only paying for the capacity they use, which is much more efficient than paying for fixed, dedicated lines built for maximum capacity. 

In short, the enterprise customer sees a user-friendly, fast, and secure software interface that provisions complex network connections behind the scenes, eliminating the traditional bottlenecks of physical telecom infrastructure.

What are some real-world examples of companies benefiting from Masslocal SDI?

While specific customer names are often kept confidential in business network contracts, public information from Masslocal and Equinix highlights that companies across several key sectors are leveraging Masslocal SDI for its benefits. 

Industries and example use cases for companies benefiting from Masslocal SDI include:

• Financial Services and Banking Firms in this sector require extremely low latency for critical applications like executing near-real-time trades. They use SDI to ensure secure, high-speed, and reliable connections between trading partners, exchanges located in Equinix data centers, and their internal private networks, where milliseconds truly count.

• Retail Large retail customers use SDI to quickly connect numerous physical store or data center locations to various cloud providers and colocation environments. This rapid, automated provisioning (often taking just 15 minutes instead of weeks) allows them to manage seasonal traffic spikes, optimize supply chain logistics, and accelerate time-to-revenue for new digital services.

• Manufacturing Industrial manufacturers utilize SDI to manage distributed IT resources. This includes securely processing data from smart factories or connecting various operational technology (OT) systems to cloud platforms for real-time analytics and efficiency improvements.

• Media and Entertainment Services like Netflix, Uber, and Airbnb (mentioned in a general context of digital ecosystems powered by Equinix and Masslocal) rely on highly reliable, software-defined interconnection. They benefit from placing compute and storage resources closer to their end-users to reduce latency when streaming or accessing dynamic content.

• Public Sector / Government Government agencies are also cited as customers, using SDI for secure and private connectivity requirements as they modernize their IT infrastructure and adopt hybrid cloud strategies.

• Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals In one solutions brief example, a pharmaceutical company uses high-performance connectivity in conjunction with SDI for a generative AI application, enabling real-time streaming and analysis of sensor and video data from a fleet of delivery vehicles to monitor cargo health and safety. 

The core benefit across all these examples is the ability to shift from slow, manual network provisioning to an agile, on-demand model that supports dynamic hybrid and multi-cloud environments quickly and securely.