Open-IX, the non-profit organization formed to promote variety in the US internet exchange market, has certified four Digital Realty Trust data centers.

The organization certifies internet exchanges and data centers that satisfy standards it has developed for each. The idea behind Open-IX is to stimulate growth of internet exchanges alternative to the key exchanges in the country controlled by a handful of companies, such as Equinix and Telx.

Launched in 2013, it is an effort to bring the European internet exchange model, where non-profit exchanges are governed by members, to the US. Digital Realty and a number of its competitors, such as DuPont Fabros and CyrusOne, have participated in creation of Open-IX.

CyrusOne was the first data center operator to secure Open-IX certification for its facilities. The first exchange to get the non-profit's blessing was LINX (London Internet Exchange).

Bill Stein, Digital Realty's CFO and interim CEO, said the company would carry on with its commitment to Open-IX. “Digital Realty has been a strong advocate of providing the market with a more neutral and accessible internet exchange environment. We are delighted that we can now offer our clients access to our Open-IX certification in many of our North American properties,” he said.

Stein stepped in as temporary CEO while the company looks for a temporary replacement for Michael Foust, who resigned from the chief executive role in March.

The wholesale data center landlord's facilities in New York City, its hometown San Francisco, Los Angeles and Dallas have been certified. Access to the exchange will not be limited to these four facilities, however.

The company expects nearly 30 of its data centers across the New York, Virginia, Chicago, Bay Area, Los Angeles and Dallas markets to be connected to exchange infrastructure. Digital Realty is also working on certification for additional data centers in the Chicago and Ashburn, Virginia, markets.

Digital Realty facilities certified by Open-IX:

- 111 8th Ave., New York, New York

- 365 Main St., San Francisco, California

- 2260 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles, California

- 850 E. Collins, Dallas, Texas