Cross Connects vs. Virtual Connects

Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in January 2023. It was updated in September 2026 to include the latest information.

As the pace of the digital economy continues to accelerate, so do consumer expectations for faster transaction speeds. If we open an app or browser and don’t get instant results with a seamless experience, we simply close the app or browser and choose another option.

There’s usually not a single company to blame. Frequently, multiple providers operate behind the scenes to generate responses. Think about what’s involved with booking a reservation with a ride-hailing service from an app on your mobile device:

• You initiate the ride request from the app and the app authenticates you.
• GPS locates where you are and determines the distance to your destination.
• GPS estimates how long it will take the driver to pick you up and drop you off.
• The app calculates and presents a quote you accept or reject.
• GPS guides the driver to your location and then to your destination.
• You make payment via the app.

Initiating the request starts with your mobile device service provider and then may traverse several networks before landing on a ride hailing company server, all in a matter of milliseconds. The same applies for responses sent to and from you in the app. The proximity of the company’s servers to you and the driver will determine the level of latency. If app responses take too long, you will simply close the app and choose another service provider.

This networking complexity impacts financial services transactions, content delivery, digital advertising, online gaming, AI, and other digital use cases.

Physical and virtual dedicated interconnection provides direct access to an ecosystem of networks and enterprises, cloud service providers and digital content providers, within a data center or across the globe. Enterprises and service providers also use these connections to solve various challenges. This post will discuss when to use physical cross connects, virtual connections or both as essential components of your digital infrastructure.

How a dedicated one-to-one physical connection works

Cross connects are point-to-point cable links that provide high performance, low latency, and secure network connections to partners and service providers. They help companies access network providers to efficiently distribute content or exchange data, deploy applications in the cloud, and connect infrastructure within a data center to minimize latency.

Cross connects offer flexibility. You can start with existing equipment and when it’s time to replace it, simply use the same cross connect. Multiple connection speeds and bandwidth capacity levels allow you to exchange unlimited amounts of data. There’s a one-time flat fee for the cables, and no metered connections. Businesses can typically order cross connects for setup within 24 hours.

When cross connects are the best option

There are certain industries and use cases that are particularly well-suited for cross connects:

• Financial services: It comes down to milliseconds, especially for flash traders who may have a 30-millisecond advantage that allows them to access trades before the public does. This requires the closest proximity possible to stock exchanges.
• Digital advertising: Connection speed matters, so ads must load as fast as possible to avoid slowing down web pages or applications. Otherwise, users will turn to another app or website.
• Gaming: Low latency is crucial, as developers may position their games in the cloud or elsewhere with connections to many networks. They need to deliver a simultaneous experience to users worldwide with a latency of no more than 20 milliseconds.
• AI: Neoclouds and other AI service providers often find themselves having to move extremely large datasets. They can acquire cross connects in bulk to get the high bandwidth they need in a secure, reliable manner.

How one-to-many secure virtual connections work

Companies need to connect with partners such as cloud and network service providers wherever they do business. Private, software-defined interconnection gives them the option of aggregating multiple virtual connections on a single port, quickly and securely. Access to ecosystems worldwide via reliable interconnection gives businesses options to quickly adapt their distributed digital infrastructure as business needs change.

Interconnection helps companies connect with digital services such as virtual network functions (VNFs) to deploy virtual firewalls, routers, SD-WAN gateways and load balancers in minutes, eliminating the wait time required for physical networking hardware. This helps businesses modernize their networks in real-time using a convenient, flexible OPEX cost model. As a result, they can expand into new markets quickly and adapt networks in existing markets.

When one-to-many secure virtual connections are the top choice

Virtual connections support a wide range of use cases for enterprises and service providers:

• Enterprises enable hybrid multicloud networking, data center interconnection and SD-WAN deployments.
• Cloud service providers connect with customers in core environments, enable hybrid cloud at the edge, and support multicloud use cases in ecosystems.
• Network service providers rely on interconnection for connectivity to cloud, rapid service provisioning, and network infrastructure agility.

Virtual connections can help cut costs and lower complexity. They also allow companies to deploy redundant connections, enabling high availability and business continuity.

Access physical and virtual connections at Equinix

Thousands of companies worldwide have discovered the advantages of incorporating Equinix connectivity solutions—both physical and virtual—into their distributed digital infrastructure deployments. Accessible in Equinix IBX® data centers around the world, these services make it easy to set up new connections or adjust existing ones on demand. Anytime you need to create a new physical or virtual connection, simply order it on the self-service customer portal.

Using both physical Equinix Cross Connects and virtual Equinix Fabric® connectivity can help provide the right mix of performance, scalability and reliability to support distributed AI use cases. As shown below, different connectivity options enable businesses to connect to their AI ecosystem partners and run AI in private environments to meet security and sovereignty requirements.

To learn more about Equinix physical and virtual connections, read our data sheets:

• Equinix Cross Connect: High-performance, low-latency, secure network connections
• Equinix Fabric: Software-defined interconnection for public and private clouds