Operator says new deal will offer 74% direct coverage of hyperscalers’ clouds and pre-provisioned connectivity to more than 700 data centres
BT and Equinix have expanded their partnership to improve interconnectivity for multinationals across their digital value chain.
BT’s Global Fabric Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform, which the operator says is ‘AI-ready’, is now deployed in more than 30 of Equinix’s data centres. Ten more will be added in the next year. The data centres will span the world’s top 30 business locations, covering 95% of the world’s cloud interconnection traffic.
This move will extend Global Fabric’s international footprint, which BT believes will make it one of the largest NaaS platforms in the world. When fully built-out, the Global Fabric will be available to customers around the globe via 140 points of presence (PoPs) hosted in “the world’s top cloud locations” across 40 countries. BT adds the new infrastructure will offer 74% direct coverage of hyperscalers’ clouds and pre-provisioned connectivity to more than 700 data centres.
Global Fabric
Global Fabric connects multinational organisations securely, flexibly and reliably, according to BT. It provides visibility and control of access and core networks so customers can configure and activate the best end-to-end network performance for their workloads – including from users and devices in offices, factories and other operational sites.
The multi-cloud core interconnects apps and digital services such as AI. It is built on a resilient architecture, offered with a range of management options. With legacy networks, setting up or changing connectivity could take weeks. With Global Fabric, it is immediate.
Equinix’s global platform interconnects multiple clouds hosting the apps, solutions and marketplaces underpinning the digital economy. It provides access to approximately 2,000 network services, about 3,000 cloud and IT services, more than 400 content and digital media services, and more than 4,800 enterprises.
The agreement builds on BT Group’s quantum secure communications relationship with Equinix following the joint achievement of the UK’s first data centre to data centre connection using the technology.
Digital ecosystems
According to Equinix’s Global Interconnection Index, digital ecosystems are growing exponentially. Eighty per cent of business-to-business sales interactions are expected to occur in digital channels by the end of 2025. By integrating industry value chains, leading businesses are innovating at a rate 25% higher than their peers.
Matt Swinden, Director, Digital Connectivity, Business, BT, said: “The BT-Equinix partnership is a terrific example of our strategy to build the strongest digital foundations for our customers. Global Fabric combined with Equinix’s global ecosystem of infrastructure, cloud and digital service widens the choice we offer to customers of the best locations to interconnect their full business value chain. It will help make trading, partnering and operating a multinational business, better on BT.”