A groundbreaking achievement has been realized with Nokia, Windstream, and Colt by successfully completing an 800 Gigabit Ethernet (800GbE) transatlantic trial. Spanning 8,500 kilometers between London and Chicago, this trial showcases advanced networking technologies and redefines future connectivity possibilities.
The route connected two major financial hubs, employing Colt’s subsea cable and terrestrial fiber networks, combined with Windstream’s low-latency Intelligent Converged Optical Network (ICON). This is the first time an 800GbE end-to-end service has been transported from router to router over 1 Terabit per second (Tbps) optical transport.
Nokia’s cutting-edge technology played a pivotal role in this achievement. Leveraging the sixth-generation Photonic Service Engine (PSE-6s) and 7750 Service Router platforms, Nokia enabled ultra-high wavelength capacity with power efficiency, thus facilitating this remarkable breakthrough. Notably, this technology innovation doubles capacity, reaching new bandwidth milestones.
Advanced applications demand such strides. Increasing data-heavy operations such as AI-driven data center networking, content delivery networks, and financial transactions require robust and efficient bandwidth. Therefore, the trial not only meets current demands but anticipates future needs, crucial for industries reliant on high-speed data transmission.
Buddy Bayer, COO of Colt Technology Services, emphasizes the commitment to innovation behind this trial: “Pushing the boundaries of technology innovation is a fundamental part of our customer commitment: it means we stay a step ahead of the market, so we’re ready when our customers ask, ‘What’s next for us?’”
This innovation also offers a glimpse into the future of global communications, which, with the potential arrival of 800GbE services, could transform subsea and terrestrial communications for businesses worldwide. Notably, Joe Scattareggia, President of Windstream Wholesale, affirmed the magnitude of the achievement: “By partnering with two extraordinary leaders in the industry, we’re enabling unprecedented bandwidth capabilities that are essential for driving AI-powered applications worldwide for our customers.”
The trial aligns with growing demands for high-capacity, low-latency connections. As global operations digitalize, and reliance on cloud systems increases, such initiatives become vital. This accomplishment also highlights existing technological capacity to meet these expanding demands, potentially making it ready for commercial deployment.
Federico Guillén, President of Network Infrastructure at Nokia, summarizes the significance: “Such an ambitious project – to link two of the world’s most important financial hubs – sets the bar very high for network capacity, speed, security, and reliability.”
