BT launches fiber-optic network in Paris

BT is hoping to attract more business and enterprise customers in France with the launch of a “City Fibre Network” in Paris and its suburbs.

The new fiber-optic network consists of three fiber loops interconnecting ten data centers, covering the majority of business centers in the Paris area. BT says the network provides customers with cost-effective multiservice access to the BT Connect portfolio of network services, which includes optical, Ethernet, MPLS IP VPN and Internet services at speeds up to multiples of 10 Gbps.

BT already operates city networks in 24 cities across six countries in Europe (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and Spain) and in two cities in Latin America, connecting more than 3,000 business locations and telehouse centers, and providing on-net connectivity from customers’ buildings to the BT Connect portfolio. The availability of these services is guaranteed 24/7.

Jérôme Boillot, country manager, BT France, said, “Our Paris network opens a new chapter in BT’s development in France and will considerably improve our ability to serve our local customers. They will benefit from excellent connectivity at competitive prices and gain improved access to our market-leading portfolio of networked IT services. This is another step for BT France to become the network service provider of choice for global multinationals with operations in Paris and French multinationals headquartered here.”

In France, BT currently employs 2,000 people and serves 400 clients. The operator says 90% of France’s CAC 40 companies are BT clients, including major French banks, utilities and industrial companies. BT also claims to have a strong expertise in security in France, with 350 security specialists, and provides a wide range of managed security services. In France, BT operates three data centers, a network operations centre and a security operations centre.

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