The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has signed up its first Russian internet service provider in a deal with Global TeleSystems Group Inc, which could see other GTS companies also joining in the near future. Sovam Teleport, a GTS subsidiary which provides a Russian language service, Russia Online, claims to be the first Russian ISP to join a western European internet exchange. The peering arrangement will allow users in Russia and the CIS faster access to global internet providers. GTS purchased DataNet and NetForce, ISPs from Hungary and the Czech Republic, for a total of $19.5m in February, and these intend to join LINX in the near future. Other subsidiaries, ATOM and Internet Technologies from Poland could also follow suit.
