CIFNet is known to the Internet community as AS14585 and is connected to GTT Communications (AS3257), NTT Communications (AS2914), and Cogent Communications (AS174). Additionally, AS14585 peers at the Any2 Internet Exchange of CoreSite. Further, we have agreements with multiple prospective carriers to provide additional capacity.


GTT Communications, AS3257, already well established as a global Tier 1 provider and is one of the top 5 largest IP network in the world.  GTT is 100% Juniper MX-based infrastructure, built using the latest best-of-breed technologies.  GTT has over 250 points-of-presence, 100+ country deployments, 10/100G network diversity.

NTT Communications, AS2914. The NTT Communications network is consistently ranked among the top5 networks worldwide. NTT owns and operates one of the world's largest Tier-1 global IP backbones, fully upgraded to run dual stack—both IPv4 and IPv6.

Cogent Communications, AS174. Cogent's worldwide Tier 1 optical IP network is one of the largest of its kind, with direct IP connectivity to more than 5,580 AS (Autonomous System) networks around the world and over 75,500 Gbps internetworking capacity. Cogent's network is IPv6 and MPLS enabled, providing state-of-the-art solutions for businesses. Being a facilities-based carrier, Cogent takes advantage of full end-to-end control over its transport and routing technology to provide reliable and scalable service.

CIFNet engineers have specifically chosen industry’s top IP carriers. All IP carriers were selected based on the following criteria:

1. Network availability is based on the actual network outages and preventive / emergency maintenances that may potentially impact our network. While some carriers simply lack the ability to notify their customers in advance of service related outages and maintenances, our carriers always proactively notify CIFNet of any issues.

2. POP diversity. Our carriers' Network Points of Presence (POP) are located throughout Chicago. This ensures that the latter two will not be simultaneously unavailable.

3. Carrier's backbone redundancy – some backbone operators only claim to have redundant backbones. All of our three carriers: GTT, NTT, and Cogent have completely fault-tolerant backbone networks. What's also important is that historically none of the major fiber cuts across one operator's backbone has affected the other, thus providing unparallel level of availability for CIFNet.

4. Non-oversubscribed bandwidth  - this includes both on-net, backbone network and peering interconnections.

5. Line-rate performance - meaning that each backbone device will carry our traffic without breaking a sweat. Some carriers may claim to sell a full GigE, but their gear will “burn out” at 500-750Mbps (that's ½ to ¾ of a full GigE)

6. BGP communities - we prefer to have influence over not only our outbound traffic (going out of AS14585/CIFNet), but also inbound (flowing into our network). All three carriers provide a set of powerful BGP4 communities allowing us to control our inbound traffic.

7. Peering - each backbone operator has a worldwide presence to interconnect with various parties including other Tier 1 networks, regional, content, educational, and broadband networks. Having all kinds of peering partners gives us unparallel level of connectivity to other networks with fewer third parties in between.

8. Financial stability - we prefer to develop long-term relationships with our partners. Dealing with well-established parties that aren't going to disappear overnight is a good way to conduct long-term business.

 Whatever your needs may be, CIFNet will meet and exceed your most demanding requirements.