M$ shunned by British ISPs | The Register

M$ shunned by British ISPs | The Register

Microsoft are a content provide, though their content is software. A lot of people access Microsoft's sites. Joining LINX doesn't mean anybody actually transferring any packets with MS as LINX is completely neutral and generally allows anyone to join (as in connect to a LINX comms port). Anybody connecting to LINX becomes a LINX member.

Once the connection is in place, it's up to MS and others to agree to peering which is where they agree to allow traffic between their networks.

If LINX members don't let Microsoft join purely for political reasons it will actually be a sad day as they are then excerting some form of "censorship" which goes against what a neutral peering point should be.