Building the Foundation
AEX USA is a managed network service provider that launched in Charlotte, North Carolina in June 2023. The company originated from South Africa's open-access network model and aims to enable local ISPs to scale operations by handling backend broadband deployment logistics.
AEX offers software tools, network access points, and turnkey solutions. Initial challenges included managing carrier relationships, designing cost-effective routes, and ensuring network redundancy.
Overcoming the Roadblocks
Before partnering with Capcon Networks, AEX experienced significant operational obstacles. Backhaul circuit turn-ups took 180 to 360 days. Identifying carrier options, evaluating costs, and designing diverse routes across multiple states had become overwhelming at scale. Limited redundancy and last-minute changes were increasing costs and delaying go-live dates.
6–12 months
industry standard
30–90 days
with Capcon
Backhaul procurement timeline
Partnering for Progress
The partnership began at Fiber Connect in Orlando in 2023. Capcon provided carrier-agnostic, turnkey connectivity solutions with detailed cost analyses, redundancy designs, and seamless integration with AEX's data centers. Capcon's purchasing power enabled parallel market management and cost optimization across multiple states simultaneously.
Additional benefits included resilient network design prioritizing path diversity, optimized traffic routing to content providers, and streamlined carrier coordination that removed backhaul from AEX's critical path entirely.
A Shared Vision for the Future
AEX now operates in 15 or more states with six data center locations. Their five-year vision covers nationwide connectivity and automation services. Capcon's scalable solutions help tie rural and local ISPs into AEX's network points of presence, bringing traffic back to peering locations efficiently.
