Tier 2 network
Encyclopedia
A Tier 2 Network is an Internet service provider
who engages in the practice of peering
with other networks, but who still purchases IP transit to reach some portion of the Internet.
Tier 2 providers are the most common providers on the Internet
as it is much easier to purchase transit from a Tier 1 network
than it is to peer with them and then attempt to push into becoming a Tier 1 carrier.
The term Tier 3 is sometimes also used to describe networks who solely purchase IP transit from other networks (typically Tier 2 networks) to reach the Internet. The majority of Tier 3 networks are usually single rather than multi-homed and therefore are vulnerable to depeering disputes.
The ASxxx refer to each network's IANA
-assigned AS number
.
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
who engages in the practice of peering
Peering
In computer networking, peering is a voluntary interconnection of administratively separate Internet networks for the purpose of exchanging traffic between the customers of each network. The pure definition of peering is settlement-free or "sender keeps all," meaning that neither party pays the...
with other networks, but who still purchases IP transit to reach some portion of the Internet.
Tier 2 providers are the most common providers on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
as it is much easier to purchase transit from a Tier 1 network
Tier 1 network
A tier 1 network is an Internet Protocol network that participates in the Internet solely via settlement-free interconnection, also known as settlement-free peering.-Definition:...
than it is to peer with them and then attempt to push into becoming a Tier 1 carrier.
The term Tier 3 is sometimes also used to describe networks who solely purchase IP transit from other networks (typically Tier 2 networks) to reach the Internet. The majority of Tier 3 networks are usually single rather than multi-homed and therefore are vulnerable to depeering disputes.
See also
- Tier 1 networkTier 1 networkA tier 1 network is an Internet Protocol network that participates in the Internet solely via settlement-free interconnection, also known as settlement-free peering.-Definition:...
- IP Transit
- Peering point
- Network Access PointNetwork access pointA Network Access Point was a public network exchange facility where Internet Service Providers connected with one another in peering arrangements. The NAPs were a key component in the transition from the NSFNET era when many networks were government sponsored and commercial traffic was prohibited...
List of large or important tier 2 IPv4 ISPs
- VodafoneVodafoneVodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
AS3209 (formerly ARCOR AG Germany) (buys transit from Level3/AS3356, GBLXGlobal CrossingGlobal Crossing Limited was a telecommunications company that provides computer networking services worldwide. It maintained a large backbone and offered transit and peering links, VPN, leased lines, audio and video conferencing, long distance telephone, managed services, dialup, colocation and...
/AS3549) - Virgin Media/ Virgin Media Business
- PCCW GlobalPCCWPCCW Limited is the holding company of HKT Group Holdings Limited, Hong Kong's premier telecommunications provider in the Information and Communications Technologies industry. PCCW also holds a majority interest in Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited...
AS3491 (formerly Beyond the Network Access (BTN)) (buys transit from GBLXGlobal CrossingGlobal Crossing Limited was a telecommunications company that provides computer networking services worldwide. It maintained a large backbone and offered transit and peering links, VPN, leased lines, audio and video conferencing, long distance telephone, managed services, dialup, colocation and...
/AS3549) - France TélécomFrance TélécomFrance Telecom S.A. is the main telecommunications company in France, the third-largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It currently employs about 180,000 people and has 192.7 million customers worldwide . In 2010 the group had revenue of €45.5 billion...
AS5511 (buys transit from Verizon/AS701, possible paid peering from Sprint/AS1239) - Tele2Tele2Tele2 AB is a major European telecommunications operator, with about 34 million customers in 11 countries. It serves as a fixed-line telephone operator, cable television provider, mobile phone operator and Internet service provider.- Overview :...
(formerly SWIPNet) AS1257 (buys transit from Sprint/AS1239) - tw telecom/as4323 (Sprint Nextel Corporation/as1239 transit)
- nLayer AS4436 (buys transit from GBLX/AS3549)
- InternapInternapFounded in May 1996 in Seattle, Internap Network Services Corporation is a publicly traded company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia that enables route-optimized delivery of content over the Internet. Internap’s business units include Internet Protocol , data center and Content Delivery Network ...
- InterouteInterouteInteroute Communications Ltd, is a privately held telecommunications company, which owns and operates a next generation . The network links to 21 Metropolitan Area Networks in 29 countries across 55,000 km of lit fibre and includes 8 Data Centres and 32 Colocation Centres.Interoute’s network...
AS8928 (buys transit from Sprint/AS1239 and Tinet, formerly Tiscali International NetworkTinetTinet, a Neutral Tandem company, is a global carrier that services the IP and Ethernet wholesale market. With network presence and customers in EMEA, Americas and APAC, Tinet is a service provider offering global IP Transit and Ethernet connectivity to Carriers, Service and Content...
/AS3257) - MZIMA AS25973 (buys transit from Level3/AS3356 and GBLX/AS3549)
- ComcastComcastComcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
AS7922 (buys transit from Level3/AS3356) - Sling Broadband AS33724 (buys transit from Level3/AS3356) and CogentCogentCogent can refer to:* Cogency of an argument* Cogent Communications, an Internet service provider* Cogent Partners, an investment banking firm focused on private equity secondary advisory transactions...
/AS174) - Spirit Communications AS2711 (buys transit from GBLX/AS3549 and TinetTinetTinet, a Neutral Tandem company, is a global carrier that services the IP and Ethernet wholesale market. With network presence and customers in EMEA, Americas and APAC, Tinet is a service provider offering global IP Transit and Ethernet connectivity to Carriers, Service and Content...
/AS3257)
The ASxxx refer to each network's IANA
Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority is the entity that oversees global IP address allocation, autonomous system number allocation, root zone management in the Domain Name System , media types, and other Internet Protocol-related symbols and numbers...
-assigned AS number
Autonomous system (Internet)
Within the Internet, an Autonomous System is a collection of connected Internet Protocol routing prefixes under the control of one or more network operators that presents a common, clearly defined routing policy to the Internet....
.