Connectivity
Member firms connect to the London Stock Exchange to receive real-time trading, information and other services. This section tells you more about connecting to the Exchange and about other network services available to member firms.
Each firm will have different requirements in terms of access to the London Stock Exchange’s markets. Some may develop bespoke trading and information applications and others will make use of accredited software.
The Exchange has awarded 'Accredited' status to those Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) who have developed systems and conformed to the minimum requirements specified by the Exchange. These ISVs provide a valuable service to our clients who may not wish to develop interfaces to our feeds themselves.
View our list of ISVs.
Connecting to the Exchange
The Exchange currently offers several types of connectivity with varying levels of management and performance. These range from a full host-to-host solution to a Vendor Access Network connection, these are described below.
Extranex
Customers with their own trading and information systems can connect directly to the Exchange via Extranex. Extranex provides customers of the Exchange with dedicated point to point connections for market data and trading. Extranex is fully supported by the Exchange, providing the highest reliability and lowest latency connectivity.
Extranex provides a single point of access to support a wide number of trading and market data services. Lines can be sized to suit the information and trading service requirements of the firm. The scalability of Extranex allows information services to be added as required.
For more information on ISVs providing accredited software solutions for host to host clients please click here.
Member Authorised Connection (MAC)
Membership to the Exchange is the ultimate way to gain direct trading access to the world's deepest pool of liquidity in UK equity, in addition to International Depository Receipts and other trading instruments. However, in some instances membership may not be suitable for a firm. Member Authorised Connection (MAC) is an alternative way for non member firms to gain direct trading access to the Exchange via an authorising member firm.
Exchange Hosting
Exchange Hosting is a new connectivity service that provides customers with the fastest access to the Exchange’s trading and information systems. It allows member firms to locate their servers within the Exchange’s own data centre, providing sub-millisecond access to the Exchange’s matching engine and market data.
This new service underlines the Exchange’s commitment to encouraging market efficiency through the reduction of latency, and further extends our variety of connectivity options by providing the ultimate choice in low-latency connectivity.
Network Service Providers (NSP)
The Exchange has extended its network reach globally by partnering with accredited network partners. NSPs act as carriers of Exchange information and trading services to its end clients, who contract with the NSP for provision of network connectivity and sign agreements directly with the Exchange for access to trading and information. Customers of NSPs will have service enablements set up on the Exchange’s trading and information systems in exactly the same way as a direct Extranex customer. The data and trading feeds are in exactly the same format as those received by a direct Extranex customer and are subject to the same testing requirements.
Vendor Access Network providers (VAN)
In order to extend the connectivity options available to our customers, the Exchange introduced the Vendor Access Network model under which market data vendors are accredited for the transmission of secured trading data across their proprietary networks. Vendor Access Network providers (VANs) provide network connectivity and pre-conformed application’s through which clients can interface with the Exchange.
This solution allows customers who do not have a need for a full Extranex solution to utilise an accredited provider’s network and applications for trading connectivity to the Exchange.
Accredited Proximity Hosting
The Exchange is committed to increasing the speed at which market data is disseminated, thereby improving market efficiency and increasing liquidity. As our clients' usage of automated algorithmic trading strategies increase, they are becoming more latency sensitive and are deciding to move their trading applications closer to their chosen trading venue. To assist our clients to identify suitable hosting providers, the Exchange has introduced a formal accreditation policy to provide visibility of the accreditation status of their chosen hosting solution provider.
Providers who fulfil the criteria are published on this site along with service and contact details.