Route Types explained: IEPL dedicated line / Relay / Direct
The route type decides which path your data takes from your location to the exit data center. The three types are not substitutes for one another but a combination covering different distances and stability needs: work out when you connect and in which direction, and choosing a route stops being guesswork.
IEPL dedicated line
Highest cost
How it worksTraffic runs from the local entry point to the exit data center over a carrier dedicated line, avoiding congested public internet backbone segments; the path is fixed and bandwidth is not shared with other users.
Best forLong, stable work sessions, AI tool conversations, cross-border video meetings, and anything that has to stay usable during evening peak hours.
CostDedicated line capacity is billed by bandwidth, making this the most expensive of the three types, so it is only deployed between popular cities and international exits — the smallest set of routes.
NoteA dedicated line does not reroute mid-path; if the link fails, traffic moves to a backup dedicated line, so connection quality fluctuates less than on public routes.
Relay Routes
Moderate cost
How it worksYou connect first to the nearest relay entry data center, which forwards traffic to the target exit; the relay leg runs over optimized internal links, and only the final hop touches the public internet.
Best forRegions far from the exit, such as connecting from Asia to Europe or South America; suitable for streaming and everyday browsing, and the widest-reaching type.
CostPriced between dedicated line and direct, with entry and exit capacity that scales separately, so relay routes are the most numerous; new cities usually launch as relay first.
NoteWith one extra hop, it can add a few milliseconds in the worst case, which usually buys fewer cross-border detours.
Direct Routes
Lowest cost
How it worksThe client connects straight to the exit data center in the target region with no extra relay node in between — the shortest path.
Best forCases where the target region is close to you, or where the exit location matters — for example, when the exit IP needs to be in the same country as the site you are visiting.
CostThe cheapest of the three and the widest city coverage, well suited as a backup alongside your main route.
NoteDirect quality depends on the public internet path from your network to the exit data center and may fluctuate at peak hours, so keep a relay or dedicated line ready as well.