The London Internet Exchange (LINX) - the largest Internet exchange point in Europe – has switched its 250 trillionth (250,000,000,000,000th) packet of data since its foundation in 1994.

An average packet of data consists of between 450 and 550 bytes - roughly the equivalent of around 500 characters in an e-mail message. At the same time LINX announced that peak traffic flows at the exchange have topped 14 gigabits per second, about 140 times more than its closest UK rival. This is equivalent to 840,000 average e-mail messages per second.

LINX now handles up to 96 per cent of UK Internet traffic using powerful, high-capacity switching and routing equipment in eight Docklands and City of London tele-hotels. It is owned by more than 120 Internet service providers (ISPs) and content delivery service providers (CDSPs), connecting their networks to allow data to move efficiently around the world.

LINX sales and marketing manager Vanessa Evans said: "We continue to see phenomenal growth in traffic levels at the exchange. We expect this growth will continue, as more and more people use the Internet at home and at work and as businesses expand their e-commerce operations. "We are continually introducing new services and equipment to improve our service to members."