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.
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.
The details
Direct paths to your cloudWe run direct private peering with the major cloud and content platforms, placing your most important…
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
Direct Peering with Microsoft & AWS questions
Straight answers from the FirstNet team.
Read every answer in the Knowledge HubWhy choose FirstNet. Connectivity assessment
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.
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.
From the Knowledge Hub
In-depth answers about Direct Peering with Microsoft & AWS
Where connectivity fits
- Sovereign AI AI that stays home, in every layer.
- Voice Every call, clear.
- Security Threats, contained.
- Cloud Data, protected.
- Connectivity Always connected.
Enriched by Sovereign AI: reach the AI Factory over FirstNet’s own network, with a direct, low-latency path that stays on South African soil. Explore the AI Factory