Lancom, Greece’s largest provider of data centre, cloud and telecommunications services, today announces the expansion of NetIX GR to Chania, establishing the first Internet Exchange in Crete.

NetIX GR was launched in 2024 by Lancom, with the support of NetIX’s Internet Exchange-as-a-Service (IXaaS) platform, and has evolved into one of the fastest-growing Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in Southeast Europe. In less than a year, it has expanded its presence in Athens and Thessaloniki, reaching nearly 40 members, including international providers such as Hurricane Electric, interconnection organisations such as Packet Clearing House, as well as major Greek providers including TI Sparkle Greece, Fibergrid – PPC, Hellenic Cable Networks and Metadosis.

Although NetIX connects more than 200 members worldwide, with over 220 Points of Presence (PoPs) across 65 countries and more than 10,000 networks, the success of NetIX GR stands out even within this global context. By seamlessly integrating traffic between Athens and Thessaloniki, NetIX GR has already established itself as a key interconnection network for ISPs, CDNs, hyperscalers and content providers in Southeast Europe — offering ultra-low latency, enhanced resilience and reduced interconnection costs.

With the expansion to Chania, Lancom and NetIX are taking the next decisive step. For the first time, networks in Crete will be able to interconnect locally, seamlessly exchanging data with the Athens and Thessaloniki nodes over the same network. This decentralisation places Crete at the core of Greece’s interconnection ecosystem and lays the foundations for a new regional digital gateway.

Crete is rapidly emerging as a strategic digital gateway for the Mediterranean. Thanks to its geographical position — at the crossroads of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East — it has become a preferred landing point for a new generation of submarine cables reshaping global data flows. The combination of this submarine capacity, cable landing stations, new data centres and the NetIX GR interconnection platform is establishing Crete’s role as a bridge between continents.

George Nolis, CEO of Lancom, stated:
“With NetIX GR, our vision has always been to decentralise interconnection in Greece and empower regional ecosystems. The creation of the first Internet Exchange in Chania represents a historic milestone for Crete’s digital economy. Together with NetIX, we are ensuring that Crete will no longer serve merely as a transit point for submarine cables — it will evolve into an active interconnection hub. Local ISPs, CDNs, hyperscalers and businesses can now connect through the hub, create new opportunities and keep traffic local, while maintaining access to Greek and international networks. The upcoming Balkan Gate data centre in Heraklion will complete our vision of Crete as a true digital gateway to Greece and Europe.”

Dean Belev, Vice President of Interconnection Services at NetIX, added:
“NetIX is proud to provide the IX-as-a-Service platform, supporting Lancom’s ambitious expansion of NetIX GR. The growth we are witnessing in Athens and Thessaloniki demonstrates the strong demand for local and global interconnection in Greece. The expansion to Chania places Crete firmly on Europe’s digital map, ensuring that the wider region benefits from faster, more cost-effective and more reliable connectivity.”