1547 Expands US-Mexico Connectivity With McAllen Exchange

fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty (1547), a leading owner, developer, and operator of highly interconnected, custom-designed data centers across North America, announced the deployment of the McAllen Internet Exchange (MCT-IX) inside the 1547-owned Chase Tower in McAllen, Texas. The move marks a new phase in the region’s digital infrastructure, reinforcing McAllen’s role as a strategic cross-border connectivity hub between the United States and Mexico.

“Announcing MCT-IX is an important milestone for both 1547 and the McAllen market. With formal ARIN recognition and early port commitments already underway, it is clear there is strong demand for an Internet Exchange that builds on the long-established interconnection ecosystem inside Chase Tower. As owners of the carrier hotel, we are committed to supporting this next phase of growth,” said J. Todd Raymond, CEO and Managing Director, 1547.

For decades, Chase Tower has served as a carrier hotel and the primary network aggregation point for US–Mexico traffic in South Texas. By locating MCT-IX within the building, 1547 places the exchange at the most efficient point for regional traffic exchange. The Internet Exchange has been formally recognized by the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) under ASN AS402079 and is already onboarding its first participants, with multiple networks committing ports as part of the initial rollout.

Throughout 2025, the facility has recorded new carrier deployments, capacity expansions by long-standing network partners, and a steady rise in cross-connect activity. To support this growth and preserve the building’s role as the region’s primary interconnection hub, ownership has invested more than US$6 million in critical systems upgrades, including backup power, elevators, fire and life safety systems, and a comprehensive overhaul of HVAC infrastructure.

In parallel, 1547 has expanded interconnection infrastructure within Chase Tower, including the development of a new meet-me room and a dedicated carrier room designed to accommodate rising cross-connect demand. The new space can support dozens of carrier cabinets, providing streamlined, low-latency access between networks, MCT-IX, and the broader Chase Tower ecosystem.

Looking ahead, 1547 is scaling physical capacity to match expected growth among both data center tenants and Internet Exchange participants. The company is building an additional 500 kilowatts of colocation capacity inside Chase Tower, along with a 3MW, 1,208-square-meter dedicated data center annex connected to the building. Both expansions are targeted for completion in 4Q26.

The launch of MCT-IX represents a structural shift in how traffic can be exchanged in the region. Currently, much of McAllen’s cross-border connectivity depends on upstream routes that exit the local market before reaching their destination. By enabling localized traffic exchange, MCT-IX will give networks greater control over routing, improve performance, and enhance overall efficiency for cross-border data flows.

“Across Chase Tower, we are seeing measurable increases in interconnection activity, from new deployments to expanded capacity and growing interest in route diversity. MCT-IX aligns perfectly with the needs of the ecosystem inside the building. As development continues, the exchange will complement our upcoming expansion and further strengthen McAllen as a critical cross-border connectivity hub,” states John Bonczek, Chief Revenue Officer, 1547.