RAI is now connected to Milan Internet eXchange
Starting with September, RAI Internet access will be much easier and more efficient for Italian users. With a direct, 2.5 Gbps connection to MIX, RAI will be able to exchange traffic directly with most of the Italian network operators. In this way, RAI multimedia content could be better used by an exponential growing population.
For RAI this is also a further step toward the implementation of the Service Contract recently agreed with the Communication Ministry.
For MIX this is an absolute news: for the first time, subjects that produce and distribute under license editorial contents can access to public peering services.
Like in many others European exchange points, the new and more relaxed admission policies to MIX allows a balanced growth of network operators and providers of Internet-oriented services.
RAI is the concessionaire of public radio and television broadcasting service, tv-audience leader in 2006 with a share of 44% in the whole day and more than 45% in prime-time; it broadcasts three national networks (more than 24,000 hours), 12 satellite channels (5 pay-per-view and 5 free on Sky platform, and 2 for Italians who live abroad), 8 interactive channels on DTT.
More than 80,000 hours of radio programs are broadcasted over 3 national channels, 2 dedicated channels ('GR parlamento' dedicated to politics, and 'Isoradio' for traffic information on highways), programs for linguistic minorities, Satelradio for italian communities in the world and cable radio channels.
It also broadcasts a national teletext and 20 regional teletext, and the channel Rai News 24 on the Internet.
The company is also formed by Rai Sat (for satellite channels), Rai Sipra (advertising management), Rai Corporation (for the US market), Rai Trade (trading), Rai Way (transmission and broadcasting systems), Rai Cinema (movie production), Rai Net (Internet activities), Rai Click (with e.Biscom).
MIX is the main neutral exchange point in Italy. MIX allows public and private peering services within a higly reliable structure, nowadays served by 25 operators that provide an aggregate national and international bandwidth of more than 150 Gbps.
Sixty members, national and international, are currently connected to MIX, and they exchange data for more that 100 Terabytes per day, with peak traffic levels of 17 Gbps for public peering and 7 Gbps for private peering.
