Following Prime Minister Xavier Bettel's expression of support for the development of the LUxembourg Commercial Internet eXchange platform (LU-CIX) in December 2015, the launch of 'LU-CIX 2.0', aiming to support the digital sector of the Grand Duchy, was announced on Tuesday.

Xavier Bettel, who is also the country's Minister for Communications and Media, gave his backing for the next evolutionary phase of LU-CIX at the Luxembourg Internet Days event which was held at the Chamber of Commerce in late 2015. The new 'LU-CIX 2.0' development plan involves the appointment of Claude Demuth to the position of full-time CEO as of 1 March 2016, as well as the renewal and professionalisation of the platform's infrastructures management and the advocating of Luxembourgish ICT abroad.

"Claude Demuth belongs to LU-CIX's very first initiators," explained Marco Houwen, President of LU-CIX asbl. "His perfect knowledge of the operation of the exchange point plus his technical skills and in-depth understanding of the telecommunications market are the obvious reasons behind his selection for this position. We fully trust his ability to push forward our future-oriented projects."

According to the non-profit organisation, the proper operation of the technical platform is becoming increasingly important and strategic for Luxembourg's general economy.

LU-CIX was founded in 2009 by telecoms and datacentre sector professionals who wished to highlight the growing significance of the Internet for both the Grand Duchy and the greater region. The association now holds 60 members, hosts Google's and Akamai's servers locally and has seen IP traffic rise to 50 Gbit/s. LU-CIX has also developed in conjunction with the 'Digital Lëtzebuerg' programme strategy, which aims to establish Luxembourg as a 'high-tech' centre of excellence at the heart of Europe.

"The launch of 'LU-CIX 2.0' reflects both the Government's and the entire sector's awareness of the growing importance of this field," continued Claude Demuth, CEO of LU-CIX GIE. "I am therefore particularly proud of the work accomplished over the past years by our team which is mainly composed of volunteers. Our commitment towards an efficient Internet infrastructure that is less dependent on other countries is bearing fruit. I am glad to step up my involvement in this project to which I am very attached and to continue contributing to some extent to the success of a project of greater national interest than ever before."

 

Top Photo by Lu-Cix (Claude Demuth)

Bottom Photo by Geoff Thompson( Marco Houwen)