Tier 2 network

A Tier 2 Network is an Internet service provider who engages in the practice of peering with other networks, but who still purchases IP transit to reach some portion of the Internet.

Tier 2 providers are the most common providers on the Internet as it is much easier to purchase transit from a Tier 1 network than it is to peer with them and then attempt to push into becoming a Tier 1 carrier.

The term Tier 3 is sometimes also used to describe networks who solely purchase IP transit from other networks (typically Tier 2 networks) to reach the Internet. The majority of Tier 3 networks are usually single rather than multi-homed and therefore are vulnerable to depeering disputes.

See also

• Tier 1 network
• IP Transit
• Peering point
• Network Access Point

List of large or important tier 2 IPv4 ISPs

• Vodafone AS3209 (formerly ARCOR AG Germany) (buys transit from Level3/AS3356, GBLX/AS3549)
• Virgin Media/ Virgin Media Business
• PCCW Global AS3491 (formerly Beyond the Network Access (BTN)) (buys transit from GBLX/AS3549)
• France Télécom AS5511 (buys transit from Verizon/AS701, possible paid peering from Sprint/AS1239)
• Tele2 (formerly SWIPNet) AS1257 (buys transit from Sprint/AS1239)
• tw telecom/as4323 (Sprint Nextel Corporation/as1239 transit)
• nLayer AS4436 (buys transit from GBLX/AS3549)
• Internap
• Interoute AS8928 (buys transit from Sprint/AS1239 and Tinet, formerly Tiscali International Network/AS3257)
• MZIMA AS25973 (buys transit from Level3/AS3356 and GBLX/AS3549)
• Comcast AS7922 (buys transit from Tata Communications/AS6453)
• Sling Broadband AS33724 (buys transit from Level3/AS3356) and Cogent/AS174)
• Spirit Communications AS2711 (buys transit from GBLX/AS3549 and Tinet/AS3257)

The ASxxx refer to each network's IANA-assigned AS number.