An infographic distilling the key findings on which U.S. city offers the best overall connectivity, based on the "Analysis of U.S. National and International Network Peering Hubs" report.
The report concludes there is one clear winner based on domestic peering density, international gateway infrastructure, and overall ecosystem maturity.
#1
Ashburn, Virginia
"Data Center Alley" combines the nation's largest pool of domestic peers with premier, modern subsea cable routes, creating an unmatched, self-reinforcing "super-hub."
The most critical measure of a domestic hub's strength is the number of unique networks (ASNs) available for peering. More networks mean more direct, low-latency routes. Ashburn's ecosystem is in a class of its own.
The report highlights a powerful feedback loop that cements Ashburn's dominance. Each element of its ecosystem attracts and strengthens the others, creating unstoppable momentum.
The world's largest concentration of data centers creates a massive physical hub.
Every major network, cloud, and content provider establishes a presence to connect.
New high-capacity subsea cables land nearby to access the dense ecosystem.
While Ashburn is the best all-around hub, other cities are premier gateways for specific global regions. The optimal choice depends on an organization's geographic focus.
Ashburn, VA & New York/NJ
Ashburn's modern cables and NY's established density make the East Coast the primary corridor across the Atlantic.
Los Angeles & Bay Area, CA
The undisputed leader, landing the vast majority of transpacific cables and serving the world's largest tech and media companies.
Seattle, WA
A hyper-specialized hub offering critical, low-latency access to the massive cloud platforms of Amazon (AWS) and Microsoft (Azure).
The report identifies key trends that will shape the U.S. interconnection landscape in the coming years.
New cable landings in places like South Carolina and Florida will create new digital ports, gradually decentralizing international connectivity.
Explosive growth in AI and edge computing will fuel demand for more distributed, regional IXPs located closer to end-users for ultra-low latency.
Despite decentralization, core hubs will remain vital. Investment in higher-speed ports (400GE and beyond) will continue to handle massive data growth.