Ask FirstNet about Connectivity
Direct Peering with Microsoft & AWS
Low‑latency, secure connectivity to leading clouds for mission‑critical workloads.
The Challenge
Suffering customer experience
Public internet paths introduce variability, latency, and risk for cloud applications. Customer experience suffers when critical apps are jittery or slow.
Direct peering provides predictable performance, security, and control by connecting your network into Microsoft and AWS without traversing the open internet.
Quick answers
How is peering different from VPN?
Peering provides a dedicated network path that bypasses the public internet, delivering lower latency and more consistent performance.
Do we need changes in our cloud?
We help configure networking and security on both ends to realise the benefits safely.
Is it scalable?
Yes. Port speeds and capacity can be increased as traffic grows.
Which cloud platforms does FirstNet peer with directly?
We run direct private peering with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365, AWS, Google Cloud and major content delivery networks.
Our Expertise
Cloud connectivity & performance
We maintain direct peering with Microsoft (including Azure and Maps) and AWS, enabling optimised routes and consistent performance for cloud workloads. This is ideal for real‑time apps, data replication, and latency‑sensitive services.
Peering integrates with our private connectivity and security services for an end‑to‑end, controlled architecture.
- Lower Latency: faster application response and improved user experience.
- Predictable Performance: dedicated routes avoid internet congestion.
- Security: reduced exposure and policy‑driven access to cloud resources.
- Optimised Costs: efficient data paths and fewer performance workarounds.
How We Deliver
On-ramp Cloud
At FirstNet, our architects design cloud on-ramps that align with your security model and growth plans.
Assessment
Baseline current latency and traffic patterns.
Design
Right-size ports, redundancy, and traffic segregation.
Implementation
Configure routing, security policies, and monitoring.
Optimisation
Ongoing review of utilisation and performance KPIs.
Explore the details
Case studies: Insurance and eCommerceImproved app response by over half using direct cloud peering. · Stabilised checkout performance during…
Insurance
Improved app response by over half using direct cloud peering.
eCommerce
Stabilised checkout performance during seasonal peaks.
Direct paths to your cloudWe run direct private peering with the major cloud and content platforms, placing your most important…
Peering partners
Direct paths to your cloud
We run direct private peering with the major cloud and content platforms, placing your most important traffic on the fast lane with engineered headroom and stable performance at peak.
- Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Google Cloud
- Major content delivery networks
- Local exchange peering at NAPAfrica, JINX, CINX and DINX
We’ve got you connected. Choose us as your long-term partner.
Why Choose FirstNet
Connectivity Assessment
Does direct peering help Microsoft 365 users?
Yes. Microsoft 365 is part of our direct Microsoft peering, so productivity traffic takes a direct path rather than crossing congested public routes.
What about cloud services hosted overseas?
International traffic uses multi-peer transit at hubs including London, New York, Frankfurt and Singapore, across multiple undersea cables with automatic rerouting if one is interrupted.
Does direct cloud peering improve Teams calls and video meetings?
It helps. Direct peering and uncongested paths give more consistent latency, so cloud and voice workloads behave closer to a local network than the public internet. FirstNet peers directly with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365, AWS, Google Cloud and major content delivery networks, with engineered headroom for stable performance at peak. Call quality still depends on your site's last-mile link, so critical sites benefit from a diverse backup.
FirstNet ensures connectivity assessment to quantify latency gains and design to peering plans.
Book a Connectivity Assessment tailored to your sites and users.
From the Knowledge Hub
In-depth answers about Direct Peering with Microsoft & AWS
All 7 answers about this service →Your place in the stack
Connectivity is layer 1 of 5.
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