peering

Peering requires the exchange and updating of router information between the peered ISPs, typically using the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Peering parties interconnect at network focal points such as the network access points (NAP) in the United States and at regional switching points. Initially, peering arrangements did not include an exchange of money. More recently, however, some larger ISPs have charged smaller ISPs for peering. Each major ISP generally develops a peering policy that states the terms and conditions under which it will peer with other networks for various types of traffic.

Private peering is peering between parties that are bypassing part of the public backbone network through which most Internet traffic passes. In a regional area, some ISPs exchange local peering arrangements instead of or in addition to peering with a backbone ISP. In some cases, peering charges include transit charges, or the actual line access charge to the larger network. Properly speaking, peering is simply the agreement to interconnect and exchange routing information.

Read more about peering: - U-NET, an Internet service provider based in the U.K., publishes the U-NET Peering Policy at its Web site. - GTE is an example of a major U.S. ISP and their peering application . - IBM's Global Services describes its policies at Peering with IBM Global Services . - The New York Internet Company is a multiservice ISP whose services include peering . - The Colorado Internet Cooperative Association explains the difference between full peering service and local peering service for its for ISP members .

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