The operator is using a combo of Cisco Silicon One hardware, Segment Routing MPLS software and 400G OpenZR+ tech.
Colt Technology Services is transforming its global IQ Packet Network through the deployment of Cisco’s three technologies throughout its network.
Colt is among the first to trial and adopt Acacia’s 400G OpenZR+ technology for long-haul inter-metro connections greater than 200km.
Long story
Cisco acquired Acacia after a long tussle in February this year, having been obliged to increase its offer to $4.5 billion (€3.69 billion) and winning a temporary court order in January to prevent Acacia walking away from the deal.
Acacia had argued that it was entitled to pull out of the agreement, having failed to obtain the necessary regulatory approval from the Chinese authorities within the time-frame of the merger agreement.
Cisco and Acacia originally agreed to merge in July 2019.
From 100G to 400G
Colt launched the IQ Network in 2016. It now connects more than 900 data centres across Europe, Asia and North America’s largest business hubs, with some 29,000 on-net buildings and growing.
Since the start of its strategic partnership with Cisco in 2019, Colt has worked closely with the vendor to optimise and evolve the IQ Network from 100G to 400G.
Cisco’s Silicon One hardware converges IP and optical networking layers for a simpler and more scalable architecture that delivers cost efficiency and reduces space and power usage in data centres and colocations.
Segment Routing MPLS offers software capabilities also simplifies the network and provides fine-grained control for guaranteeing stringent SLAs.
Combined with pluggable 400G OpenZR+ technology, Colt says it will deliver high-bandwidth and software-defined networking that meets connectivity demands of today and the future.
Ultra-high bandwidth
Vivek Gaur, Vice President – Network Engineering, for Colt, comments, “We know the requirement for ultra-high bandwidth services is increasing.
“With Cisco’s technology in specific layers of our network, we’ll have a scalable and efficient packet core network that fulfils the connectivity demands of our customers across the globe.””
Colt customers are expected to benefit from the upgrades in September 2021.