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--- peering-toolbox:what-is-peering:what_is_a_network_operator [2022/07/31 16:31] – [Costs] philip
+++ peering-toolbox:what-is-peering:what_is_a_network_operator [2023/03/27 17:36] (current) – [Peering] philip
@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ====== What is a Network Operator ======
-A network operator is an entity which is running a TCP/IP based network infrastructure, providing access to:
+A network operator is an entity which is running a TCP/IP based network infrastructure, connected to or planning to connect to the global Internet, and providing access to:
   * **end users**: these end users could be residential, businesses, content developers and hosts, educational institutions, charities, government departments, and so on. The Internet operations and peering communities call these end-users "//eyeballs//".
   * **other network operators**: the Internet is hierarchical and some network operators only provide Internet access to other network operators; others may also provide Internet access to **end users** as well.
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ===== Internet Resources =====
-A network operator will have their **own** Internet resources, namely their **own** IP address space (IPv4 or IPv6 or both) and their **own** Autonomous System number (the globally unique identifier for their network as used by the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the routing protocol of the Internet).
+A network operator will have their **own** Internet resources. This means that they have obtained their **own** IP address space (IPv4 or IPv6 or both) and their **own** Autonomous System number (the globally unique identifier for their network as used by the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the routing protocol of the Internet).
 Entities without their own Internet resources are not considered network operators for the purposes of this toolbox as they cannot participate in the activities being described here without those independent resources.
-Internet resources are obtainable from the Regional Internet Registries ([[https://www.afrinic.net/|AfriNIC]], [[https://apnic.net|APNIC]], [[https://www.arin.net/|ARIN]], [[https://www.lacnic.net/|LACNIC]], [[https://www.ripe.net/|RIPE NCC]]) and their websites should be consulted for further information about membership and obtaining resources. Each RIR has their own process and the Peering Toolbox recommends any prospective obtainer of Internet resources to talk with their RIR's member services team on what needs to be done (if clarification of the respective RIR website is needed).
+Internet resources are obtainable from the Regional Internet Registries ([[https://www.afrinic.net/|AfriNIC]], [[https://apnic.net|APNIC]], [[https://www.arin.net/|ARIN]], [[https://www.lacnic.net/|LACNIC]], [[https://www.ripe.net/|RIPE NCC]]) and their websites should be consulted for further information about membership and obtaining resources. Each RIR has its own process and the Peering Toolbox recommends any prospective obtainer of Internet resources to talk with their RIR's member services team on what needs to be done (if clarification of the respective RIR website is needed).
 ===== Access =====
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 The vast majority of content consumed by Internet users today is made up of social media and videos. This content is distributed by the multi-national content providers and content distribution networks.
-To provide the highest bandwidth and highest quality access to this content, a network operator positions their network as close as possible to the content providers. There are two ways of doing this: [[what_is_a_network_operator#peering|peering]], and [[what_is_a_network_operator#peering|transit]].
+To provide the highest bandwidth and highest quality access to this content, a network operator positions their infrastructure as close as possible to the content providers and content distribution networks. There are two ways of doing this: [[what_is_a_network_operator#peering|peering]], and [[what_is_a_network_operator#peering|transit]].
 ===== Peering =====
+(UPDATED)
 Peering is the connection of one network operator to another network operator to exchange traffic originated by each network operator.
@@ Line 39: / Line 42: @@
   - [[peering-toolbox/where-to-peer#public_peeringinternet_exchange_point|Public peering]] takes place at a public peering point, commonly known as an [[peering-toolbox/what-is-peering/what_is_an_internet_exchange_point|Internet Exchange Point]].
-Peering is described in more detail in the [[peering-toolbox/what-is-peering/what_is_peering|What is Peering]] page.
+Peering is described in more detail in the [[peering-toolbox/what-is-peering/what_is_peering|What is Peering]] page. To implement peering, a network operator will require knowledge of BGP, the Border Gateway Protocol.
 ===== Transit =====
 Transit is the purchasing of Internet access by a network operator from another network operator (known as their upstream provider).
-The vast majority of transit attracts traffic charges. Charges are normally levied on traffic levels (typically measured in US$ per Mbps per month). Charges vary from region to region, and the quantity committed to. For example, committing to 100Mbps will attract a much higher charge per Mbps than committing to 1Gbps would.
+Transit is the first thing a newcomer network operator will require when they are establishing their Internet connectivity.
+Transit costs money and it is usually a significant expense for any entity wishing to gain Internet access.
-Some locations charge based on outright volume (usually of downloads, but some combine both downloads and uploads), which can make Internet access very expensive. This method is reminiscent of legacy telephony plans which permit so many calls per month, or mobile data plans allowing the user so many Gbytes per month.
+Transit is described in more detail in the [[peering-toolbox/what-is-peering/what_is_transit|What is Transit]] page.
 ===== Costs =====
 Network Operators strive to minimise the cost of access to the content their end users demand.
-Transit costs money, peering does not (after the initial set-up), which means that network operators strive to peer as much as possible. Transit is considered a last resort, only to be used for low volume content sources or other destinations which cannot be reach by peering.
+Transit costs money, peering does not (after the initial set-up), which means that network operators strive to peer as much as possible. Transit is mandatory for any network operator, but is considered a last resort, only to be used for low volume content sources and other destinations which cannot be reach by peering.
 It is estimated today that around 80% of all traffic for a typical access provider can be obtained by peering. (This is based on observations of real traffic profiles by the author in many parts of the world.) The reason for this is that the majority of the major content providers have presence at many of the IXPs or peering infrastructures around the world. Participating in peering means a considerable cost-saving for every organisation that takes part.
 [[:peering-toolbox/what-is-peering| Back to "Interconnections" page]]