At IBC 2026, Prue Combellack, Head of New Business at LINX – the London Internet Exchange, discussed the middle mile with MainStreaming and Namex: past, present and the next 30 years of the internet. The focus: the lasting value of internet exchanges, a broad mix of connectivity options and an end-customer experience that remains at the centre of every single choice.
PRUE COMBELLACK – LINX, THE LONDON INTERNET EXCHANGE
Prue Combellack of LINX is the Head of New Business at LINX, the London Internet Exchange.
THE MIDDLE MILE: A CONVERSATION WITH MAINSTREAMING AND NAMEX
On this occasion, she spoke with the lovely people from MainStreaming and also with Namex about the middle mile, what it means and how it can be improved. Many topics were discussed: what is happening today, what has happened in the past and also what will happen in 30 years’ time, and what the future holds.
THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INTERNET EXCHANGE
What became really apparent is the importance of an internet exchange: how valuable internet exchanges have always been and how they will be valuable moving into the future.
CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS AND THE END CUSTOMER’S EXPERIENCE
It is about having that mix and that selection of different options in terms of connectivity, which depends on what the end customer needs. Everything revolves around the end customer’s experience, which is something in line with the types of products and services that MainStreaming offers.
LINX: AN INTERNATIONAL IXP
The London Internet Exchange is an international IXP, focused on keeping internet traffic local.
A MEMBERSHIP ORGANISATION BUILT ON COMMUNITY
LINX is a membership organisation, which means that community is super important to it. The aim is to keep both existing members and new members up to date, providing education and information.
PEERING SERVICES AND OTHER PRODUCTS
LINX delivers regular Peering services and also provides clients with other products and services as well.
MAINSTREAMING, A LINX MEMBER
MainStreaming is also a member of the organisation, and LINX has worked with them for a number of years.