The 400G network will provide Zayo’s broad range of customers, including data center providers, carriers and hyperscalers, access to high-speed, low-latency connectivity in Europe with direct routing for multi-cloud and multi-market connectivity.
These new 400G network enhancements also support global connectivity for Zayo customers outside of Europe. Zayo’s North American network is also scheduled to be fully 400G enabled by the end of 2024.
Combining the upgrade to 400G and its global reach will help Zayo differentiate itself from other players with a network that can act as the internet backbone from the most northern parts of the UK to mainland Europe and across the globe. Zayo’s European network is built on five diverse subsea cables, three owned and operated by Zayo, powering 2,500 on-net buildings, 125 core points of presence (PoPs), and 16 metro fiber markets.
“Our customers are increasingly taking advantage of bandwidth-intensive applications to keep up with the competition - from AI and IoT to advanced analytics - which require significantly higher bandwidth and low latency connectivity,” said Yannick Leboyer, managing director of Europe at Zayo Group.
The new standard
As next-generation technologies demand more and more bandwidth, 400G connectivity is increasingly becoming the standard for businesses worldwide, largely thanks to enhanced scalability, simplified application, and reduced circuit monitoring.
New Omdia research, commissioned in partnership with Ciena, highlights the growing interest in 400G.
The research found that 74% of companies rely on high-capacity services like 400G connect with enterprise locations or cloud providers, while 58% rely on data center-to-data center communication.
Driving sustainability
Zayo’s drive to 400G is not just about speed and reach alone. The new network enhancement provides sustainability benefits for 400G-connected businesses.
Independent research showcases that Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 Extreme, which is the platform that supports Zayo’s 400G network, drives a threefold increase in fiber capacity while reducing power per bit by 80% and physical space needed by 85% compared to the original WaveLogic generation.
While 400G is the focus today, Zayo is already looking at the potential growth of 800G networks. In 2022, Zayo broke the world record for the longest 800G optical wave in a commercial network at 1,044.51km. The Zayo-owned fiber route stretched from Springville, Utah, to Reno, Nevada, leveraging Infinera’s ICE6 800G coherent technology.
At that time, Zayo invested in its fiber network throughout North America and Western Europe, including 31 high-capacity, 400G-enabled long-haul routes and its first production interstate 800G wave in the United States.
“Our goal is to ensure our global clients remain on the cutting edge. That’s why we’re committed to our network's continued enhancement and modernization to provide the fastest, most reliable connectivity.”
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