Peering is a voluntary interconnection in which two autonomous systems exchange traffic destined for each other's customers directly, rather than sending it through a paid upstream provider.
Why it matters
Peering shortens the path between networks, which typically lowers latency and cost and reduces dependency on third parties. Networks peer privately through a direct cable or publicly at an Internet exchange point. In contrast, transit means paying a larger network to carry traffic to the rest of the Internet.
Peering relationships are usually negotiated between network operators and recorded in public databases such as PeeringDB.
Example
Without peering: ISP A -> Transit provider -> ISP B (3 hops, paid)
With peering: ISP A ------------------> ISP B (direct)If a video site peers directly with your ISP, streams avoid several intermediate networks.
Common mistakes
- Assuming peering is always free. Some arrangements charge, and capacity needs upgrading.
- Treating peering and transit as the same thing.
- Overlooking that disputes between peers can degrade performance for specific services.
Related
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