In alignment with the strategic decision to diversify network infrastructure, a second CIX site was successfully established in 2016 at the Digital Realty ZAG1 data center in Zagreb. Building upon the existing infrastructure at SRCE, a formal agreement was signed on October 24th between SRCE and DC NORTH, designating Varaždin as the location for a third CIX site.
The additional distribution of CIX’s network infrastructure aims to enhance its resilience, increase availability, and improve service quality for its member organisations. The new site is projected to be operational and ready to onboard new members during 2025.
The Croatian Internet eXchange (CIX) serves as the national internet traffic exchange hub, established at Srce in 2000. It is open to all internet service providers in Croatia, encompassing both commercial entities and non-commercial or private networks. As CIX approaches its 25th anniversary next year, this expansion, along with other infrastructure advancements, underscores its commitment to maintaining a pivotal role in the Croatian internet ecosystem for decades to come.
The DC NORTH data center in Varaždin, which holds the Uptime Institute’s Tier III Facility certification, is strategically positioned at Croatia’s northern entry point, intersecting key international fiber optic routes. Situated in a lower seismic zone relative to Zagreb, the center spans over 2000 square meters across six data rooms, with a total IT power capacity of 4MW. The facility adheres to the “Carrier-Neutral” model and currently houses more than 300 high-quality IT cabinets. It is purpose-built for hosting critical digital infrastructure and is fully compliant with current and future security standards, providing state-of-the-art services to its clients.