Colt offers SDN-enabled data center interconnect on demand

European communications services provider Colt has unveiled an on-demand data center interconnect offering. Thanks to a combination of software defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) capabilities, DCNet as-a-service offers customers the ability to enable 10-Gbps data center interconnect services across Europe via a self-service portal.

Trials of the new service among wholesale and enterprise customers in the finance and media verticals should begin in November. DCNet's self-service portal will initially become available for data center interconnect services in 57 third-party data centers in London, Paris, and Frankfurt. Colt expects to extend connectivity to more than 150 data centers across Europe as well as Asia Pacific in early 2016.

DCNet as-a-service is the first of Colt's planned SDN-enabled services roll-outs. Colt expects to enable more flexible connections between data centers, customer sites, and cloud service providers. These new capabilities will include APIs to provision services across third-party networks.

Use of SDN/NFV capabilities will improve integration with cloud services, shrink lead times, and leverages flexible commercial models while delivering improved service-level agreements (SLAs), Colt says. Self-service capabilities will include real-time ordering, provisioning, and service changes.

"SDN will enable a major business model change for the telecoms industry and transform the way service providers interact with customers," according to Carl Grivner, executive vice president of network services at Colt. "Colt's Novitas program is not simply a technology upgrade, but a business transformation that will enable our customers to consume services in a way that is right for them. Our vision is to be the cloud access provider for the business sector, enabling customers to build and operate their network from anywhere."

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