Internet exchange operator DE-CIX is looking to expand its interconnect offerings beyond borders and the planet itself.

Through its Space-IX project, DE-CIX wants to bring its capabilities into low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations and other space-based assets, enabling them to interconnect with one another as well as terrestrial systems.

“Wherever networks are created, interconnection should follow,” said DE-CIX CEO Ivo Ivanov. “We’ve spent 30 years building the backbone of the Internet here on Earth. Now we’re bringing that same neutral, high-performance interconnection model to the next layer of digital infrastructure, above the clouds and to the stars.”

DE-CIX already connects to more than 4,000 networks across over 60 IX locations on Earth. Most recently, its internet exchange in São Paulo came online in mid-August, providing local and remote peering options, alongside cloud exchange and multicloud routing for the Latin American market.

But the Frankfurt-based firm is looking to the cosmos – and is already making strides in that space. August also saw its Indian arm add Starlink to its interconnection ecosystem.

While its global Space-IX program provides satellite operators with interconnection solutions, the firm is exploring ways for orbital networks to interconnect with terrestrial networks, content providers, and cloud platforms.

DE-CIX is among the firms participating in the European Space Agency’s OFELIAS project, which aims to create and test ways to protect and fix connections (called optical feeder links) that send information to and from satellites. Such links promise higher speeds than traditional radio systems but require smarter protocols and algorithms to overcome challenges like cloud cover and atmospheric interference.

While OFELIAS focuses on optimizing data flow between satellites and ground stations, DE-CIX’s broader focus is on exploring space-based infrastructure and how it can be interconnected at scale – all for the goal of eventually launching the first internet exchange in orbit.

“As satellites become part of the digital supply chain, whether delivering broadband to underserved communities, powering AI for businesses, or enabling orbital analytics, we need an architecture that unites space and Earth into one seamless ecosystem,” Ivanov added. “This collaboration is the very beginning of our answer to that challenge.”