This page tracks Internet Exchanges (IXs) and broadband performance across Montana. IXs are where networks meet to exchange traffic directly, and their presence in a state is a key indicator of its digital infrastructure maturity.
Internet Exchanges? Unique Internet Exchanges with presence in at least one facility in Montana.
1
+0 vs prior monthFacilities with an IX? Data centers in Montana that host at least one Internet Exchange.
1
+0 vs prior monthNetworks? Unique networks with presence in at least one facility in Montana.
16
+0 vs prior monthAvg Download Speed? Average fixed broadband download speed in Montana, weighted by number of tests per area.
299 Mbps
+47.6 Mbps vs prior quarterAvg Latency? Average network latency in Montana. Lower is better. More local peering reduces round-trip time.
28 ms
-1.0 ms vs prior quarterIX data via PeeringDB. Speed data: Speedtest® by Ookla® Open Data.
Internet exchanges reduce latency by keeping local traffic local. Without a nearby IX, data between two networks in the same city may travel hundreds of miles to a distant peering point and back. Low latency is increasingly critical for AI workloads, where model training, inference, and distributed computing all depend on fast data exchange between facilities.
IX Growth & Network Latency
Internet Exchange Organizations by Peers
| Rank | Organization | IXs | Peers? Total unique networks peering across all IXs operated by this organization. | Facilities | Countries | Speed? Total port capacity across all IXs operated by this organization. |
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Internet Exchanges by Peers
| Rank | Internet Exchange | Peers? Number of unique networks (ASNs) peering at this IX. | Facilities | Countries | Speed? Total port capacity across all connected networks. |
|---|
Top 25 Interconnection Facilities by IX Presence
| Rank | Facility | IXs | Nets (Phys)? Networks with physical equipment at this facility. | Nets (Virt)? Networks peering at IXs in this facility without physical presence. | City |
|---|
Top 25 Networks by IX Connections
| Rank | Network | IXs | Facilities | Countries |
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The map below shows peering-capable data centers in Montana. States with dense clusters of IX-connected facilities are better positioned to attract AI infrastructure and data center investment.
IX Facilities in Montana
This map only shows this region's data. View the world map here →
Cities with Internet Exchanges in Montana
Each city page below details which networks are physically present at local facilities and which additional networks become virtually accessible through the IXs, showing the full scope of peering options available without requiring physical colocation.
= Metro Area with "Meet Me In..." research article. BOLD = Metro Area. Italic = City within a neighboring-state metro area
Internet Exchanges in Montana
Internet exchanges registered in Montana on PeeringDB, with the number of networks present at each.
- YRIX (1 peer) Yellowstone Regional Internet eXchange
Source: PeeringDB · Updated daily
Neighboring States
Compare Montana's IX infrastructure with neighboring states. Each state page tracks internet exchange growth, facility counts, and network latency trends.
Idaho 
North Dakota 
South Dakota 
Wyoming Speedtest® by Ookla® Global Fixed and Mobile Network Performance Maps. Based on Newby Ventures' analysis of Speedtest® by Ookla® Global Fixed and Mobile Network Performance Map Data for Q1 2019 – Q4 2025. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Internet Exchange? ▾
An Internet Exchange (IX) is where multiple networks connect to exchange traffic directly, rather than routing through third parties. This reduces costs, improves performance, and lowers latency for end users.
IXs are typically housed in carrier-neutral data centers where no single network has control, creating a level playing field for all participants. Networks connect via switches and exchange traffic through peering agreements. A single IX may have a physical presence in multiple facilities across a state or region.
Learn more in the NV Research AI Interconnection book/interview →
What is the source of this data? ▾
IX infrastructure data on this page is sourced from PeeringDB, a freely available database of networks and interconnection facilities maintained by the global network operator community. PeeringDB data is self-reported by network operators and facility owners.
Broadband performance data (download speed, upload speed, and latency) is sourced from Speedtest® by Ookla® open data, aggregated quarterly at the state level.
How many Internet Exchanges are in Montana? ▾
As of the latest data, Montana has 1 Internet Exchange present across 1 facility, with 16 unique networks physically connected.
These numbers are updated monthly from PeeringDB. See the chart above for historical trends.
Why does Internet Exchange location matter for Montana? ▾
The physical location of Internet Exchanges directly impacts network performance, cost, and resilience for users and businesses in Montana:
- Latency: Local IXs keep Montana traffic local, reducing round-trip times
- Cost: Direct peering at local IXs reduces transit costs for Montana ISPs
- Resilience: Multiple local interconnection points prevent single points of failure
- Economic development: IXs attract network investment, data centers, and digital businesses to Montana
Without local IXs, Montana traffic may be "tromboned" through distant cities, adding latency and cost.
Why are internet exchanges important for AI inference? ▾
Real-time inference and edge inference workloads require the lowest possible latency to deliver instant responses. Internet exchanges provide direct peering between networks, minimizing the number of network hops and reducing round-trip time.
This is critical for real-time inference applications like conversational AI and autonomous vehicles, as well as edge inference deployments that process data closer to end users rather than in centralized cloud data centers.
What is the average internet latency in Montana? ▾
The average fixed broadband latency in Montana is currently 28 ms, based on Speedtest® by Ookla® open data. Latency measures the round-trip time for data to travel between a user and a server. Lower values mean faster, more responsive connections.
States with more Internet Exchanges tend to have lower latency because traffic can be exchanged locally rather than being routed through distant cities. See the chart above for Montana's historical latency trend alongside IX growth.
Which cities in Montana have internet exchanges? ▾
Montana has Internet Exchange presence in 1 city: Billings.
Each city page shows which networks are physically present and which additional networks become virtually accessible through IX peering. See the cities list above for links to detailed data.
Which Internet Exchanges (IXs) are in Montana? ▾
Montana is home to 1 Internet Exchange, including: YRIX. Each IX enables networks to peer directly, reducing latency and transit costs.
How does Montana's IX infrastructure compare to neighboring states? ▾
Montana currently has 1 Internet Exchange. Here's how neighboring states compare:
- Idaho: 3 IXs, 20 ms avg latency
- North Dakota: 1 IX, 10 ms avg latency
- South Dakota: 0 IXs, 14 ms avg latency
- Wyoming: 0 IXs, 19 ms avg latency
See the neighboring states section for links to each state's full IX data page.
Cite This Data
When referencing this data in publications, reports, or presentations:
