Recommendation ITU-T Y.3601 provides a framework for data exchange in a big data ecosystem. Big data exchange covers multiple processes for data import and data export within a big data ecosystem. Big data exchange is used for exchanging data of multiple types and multiple formats from a data source to a data target. In this Recommendation, direct and intermediary exchange patterns are introduced. In addition, this Recommendation provides a description of the big data activities for the support of big data exchange by extending the activities defined in Recommendation ITU-T Y.3600. Finally, this Recommendation identifies functional requirements that are derived from relevant use cases.