The Evolution of ISP Services and Technologies: A Conversation with Miguel Berniz

The Evolution of ISP Services and Technologies: A Conversation with Miguel Berniz

In the rapidly changing world of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), adapting to new technologies and market shifts is essential for staying competitive. Miguel Berniz, an expert in ISP services, recently shared his insights on the journey from xDSL to GibFibre, the role of observability in network performance, and the pivotal switch to ElastiFlow for enhanced operational efficiency.

The Shift from xDSL to GibFibre

One of the most disruptive technological shifts in recent years has been the transition from xDSL to GibFibre technologies. Miguel highlighted how this shift fundamentally changed the market, allowing ISPs to offer faster, more reliable internet services. For customers, this meant an unprecedented leap in bandwidth and performance, but for ISPs, it introduced a whole new set of challenges. Miguel emphasized that the key to navigating this shift was observability—having the tools in place to monitor and optimize network performance at all times. Without visibility into the network's behavior, both performance and growth could be severely hindered.

Enhancing Network Performance with ElastiFlow

Before adopting ElastiFlow, Miguel experimented with various open-source NetFlow solutions to manage network traffic visibility. While these solutions provided a basic level of insight, they lacked the customization and speed required to handle the growing complexity of modern ISP infrastructures. The switch to ElastiFlow, Miguel noted, brought immediate improvements in both speed and customization, enabling his team to respond more swiftly to network incidents.
The impact of ElastiFlow went beyond just resolving operational issues—it also provided critical data that drove business and architectural decisions. By having a clearer view of network traffic and performance trends, Miguel's team could make more informed decisions on infrastructure investments, customer support strategies, and service offerings.

Expansion of ISP and Mobile Services: GibFibre’s Next Big Move

Miguel also shared insights into the expansion efforts of GibFibre, a company that provides a wide range of services, including Internet access, enterprise solutions, IPTV, and phone services. In their latest push for growth, GibFibre is deploying mobile network infrastructure, aiming to become the second mobile operator in Gibraltar.

Mobile Network Infrastructure and Market Strategy

As GibFibre enters the mobile services arena, Miguel highlighted the potential customer base and market capture they aim to achieve. With the demand for mobile services rising, GibFibre is strategically positioning itself to seize market share through aggressive marketing focused on speed and performance. Miguel’s team has identified a gap in the local market for faster mobile connectivity, and they intend to fill it with their new infrastructure.
The move into mobile services represents a significant milestone for GibFibre, and Miguel projected substantial growth in both their customer base and overall market presence in the coming years. The company's emphasis on speed and reliability is a cornerstone of its strategy to differentiate from competitors and gain the trust of new mobile users.

Network Infrastructure and BGP Routing: The Backbone of GibFibre

Behind the scenes, the technical infrastructure that supports GibFibre’s operations is built on a foundation of advanced network engineering. Miguel offered a glimpse into the workings of their network infrastructure, particularly the use of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) for routing tables and their partnerships with three major carriers for uplinks.

BGP Routing and DDoS Mitigation

BGP plays a critical role in ensuring efficient traffic routing, and GibFibre’s uplinks with multiple carriers provide the necessary redundancy and capacity to support their expanding services. Additionally, the implementation of automated DDoS services with Zayo ensures that GibFibre’s network remains secure against threats, while peering sessions with Deckyx optimize traffic exchange and reduce latency.
Eric, one of Miguel's colleagues, inquired about flow data sampling and BGP visibility, which are essential for network traffic management. Miguel explained how GibFibre’s routers export flow data and enable low-level traffic engineering, giving the team granular control over network performance and routing decisions.

Conclusion

The ISP landscape is evolving rapidly, and companies like GibFibre are leading the charge with innovative technologies and expansion strategies. From the transition to GibFibre and the adoption of ElastiFlow to the deployment of mobile infrastructure and advanced routing techniques, GibFibre is positioning itself as a key player in the market. As they continue to grow and adapt to new challenges, observability, speed, and performance remain at the heart of their success.