# AWS Interconnect - last mile adds a Northern Virginia metro, the second after New York

Hi everyone, it's Shii-chan! Today's news is about network connectivity.

## What was announced?

According to AWS What's New, **AWS Interconnect - last mile** has a new **Northern Virginia, USA metro**. It joins New York as the second metro where you can connect your data center, branch office, or colocation facility to AWS.

## Why it matters

AWS Interconnect - last mile gives you managed, private, resilient connections to AWS, so you don't have to order cross-connects or configure routers. More metros means more people can use it.

## What changes

- You can connect to AWS through the Northern Virginia metro
- Lumen customers anywhere in the continental United States can order generally available connections
- You can reach all public AWS Regions (except those in China) and AWS Local Zones

## Dive Deep

Standard characteristics:

- Every connection is provisioned by default across two physically diverse locations with four redundant links
- 99.99% availability SLA up to the Direct Connect port
- Traffic between AWS and partner edge devices is encrypted with MACsec by default

Partner status:

- Lumen: generally available through the Northern Virginia metro
- Megaport: preview
- Equinix: preview

You can create connections with the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, or AWS Interconnect API. See the AWS Interconnect - last mile pricing page for costs.

## Wrap-up

- Northern Virginia is the second metro after New York
- Lumen is GA; Megaport and Equinix are in preview
- Two locations, four links, a 99.99% SLA, and MACsec by default

This is for anyone who wants resilient private connectivity from on premises to AWS without the hassle!