Today, I'm breaking down three fundamental components of cloud networks.
Cloud Regions. Regions are territories (generally, a metro area) that comprise one or multiple cloud zones.
Cloud Zones. These are typically individual data centers in a geographic region or on a campus. A local zone is an extension of a cloud region that offers a subset of standard cloud services that tend to be more latency sensitive. Local zones are accessible at cloud on-ramp locations.
On-Ramps. These are the points of interconnection between enterprises and cloud service providers (CSPs), often found in colocation facilities in the most interconnected cities.
Cloud On-Ramps by Top Metros
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Some CSPs tie on-ramps to specific regions in their own internal network. Usually there is a loose geographic correlation between the on-ramp locations and CSP data centers.
In the map below, you’ll see a glimpse of the connectivity landscape as of Q1 2024.
Global Cloud Data Center and On-Ramp Locations
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For a more interactive view, head over to our free Cloud Infrastructure Map.
This resource shows where cloud interconnection services are present, offering a top-level view of cloud regions, local zones, and on-ramps across eight major cloud service providers. Users can filter results by cloud provider or individual cloud service.
Visit cloudinfrastructuremap.com to explore cloud regions, locate cloud on-ramps, and uncover local zones.
And that's just the free version. Cloud and WAN Research Service subscribers also have access to:
- Data center operators' cloud exchanges and on-ramps
- Global internet exchange point cloud exchanges and on-ramps
- Network service providers’ WAN services and dedicated cloud connections locations
Patrick Christian
Patrick Christian is a Senior Research Manager with TeleGeography. He heads the Cloud and WAN Research Service. He also focuses on African and European markets specializing in international bandwidth markets and internet infrastructure, WAN services, terrestrial and submarine cable systems, and international voice traffic analysis.