MAE-West, or the Metropolitan Area Exchange - West, is a key internet exchange point located in the Western United States, specifically in the San Francisco Bay Area. It serves as a major interconnection point where various internet service providers (ISPs), content providers, and networks can connect and exchange traffic with one another. MAE-West was established to facilitate more efficient data routing and reduce latency by allowing local traffic to stay within the region rather than being routed through longer paths.