A major internet node will place the Alierta DAT at the heart of European digital connectivity

Aragon takes another step towards consolidating its position as a key region for digital connectivity in Spain and Southern Europe . The Government of Aragon and ESpanix , the company managing the neutral node , have signed an agreement to implement an Internet Exchange Point ( IXP ) in the new Aragonese Technology District ( DAT Alierta ), planned for the northern part of the city of Zaragoza.

In practice, this agreement will allow much of the internet traffic that currently has to go outside the region to be exchanged directly in Aragon, resulting in faster, more secure and more efficient connections for both businesses and citizens.

ZARAGOZA, AT THE HEART OF THE DIGITAL NETWORK

The arrival of ESpanix is ​​based on a strategic advantage: Aragon is located on the main axis of the fiber optic backbone network that connects the Atlantic with the Mediterranean , linking Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, ​​and southern France. This position allows for highly competitive latencies—between 7 and 9 milliseconds—with the country’s main economic centers.

In a context marked by unprecedented investments in hyperscale data centers , the implementation of Spain’s main Internet exchange point will allow digital content, cloud platforms and advanced technological services to be “brought closer” to the Aragonese territory.

WHAT DOES ESPANIX CONTRIBUTE TO ARAGON?

ESpanix is ​​the largest internet exchange point in Spain. It has over 190 clients, manages more than 2 terabits per second of traffic, and has a total capacity of up to 240 terabits per second. Until now, its infrastructure was concentrated in six strategic locations in Madrid and Barcelona.

With this agreement, ESpanix will add a new node at the Alierta DAT, creating a direct, low-latency connection ring between Madrid, Zaragoza, and Barcelona . Furthermore, it will integrate the major international data routes that reach the Iberian Peninsula via Barcelona, ​​Bilbao, Lisbon, Madrid, and Valencia, positioning Zaragoza as a new digital hub in Southern Europe.

DIRECT BENEFITS FOR COMPANIES AND CITIZENS

The implementation of this node will bring very specific advantages . Among them is a significant reduction in data transmission time, especially for regional content. It will also allow for cost savings for operators and technology companies, estimated at at least 20% in similar markets .

This is complemented by greater resilience and digital sovereignty, as critical traffic can be kept within the region in the event of external incidents. The project also strengthens Aragon’s attractiveness for new investments related to content distribution networks, cloud services, artificial intelligence, edge computing, and high-value-added sectors such as cybersecurity, telemedicine, video games, and defense.

A BOOST TO THE ARAGONESE TECHNOLOGICAL ECOSYSTEM

ESpanix CEO Pedro Sainz Cristóbal emphasized that the implementation of the node in Zaragoza “consolidates a high-capacity, low-latency interconnection ring in the heart of Spain,” reinforcing the strength of national and international telecommunications and attracting new global traffic to Aragon.

“The goal is to strengthen the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the digital experience of Aragonese citizens, guaranteeing faster, safer and cheaper connections in a rapidly growing technological ecosystem,” he said.

The presence of ESpanix in Aragon will also facilitate the direct connection of the new data center campuses with the local business fabric, optimize interconnection costs and accelerate the arrival of advanced cloud and artificial intelligence services to the Community, reinforcing Zaragoza’s role as one of the country’s major technological hubs.