Colt Technology Services (Colt) has successfully completed the deployment of a new dark fiber (G.652D/G.657) cable along the Channel Tunnel connecting London, UK and Paris, France.
The new network is designed to provide businesses and organizations with faster, more reliable and uninterrupted cross-border data connectivity. It will also help support the growing demand for cloud computing and other digital services in London and Paris.
Colt is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all new cables installed in the Channel Tunnel, boasting transmission rates of several Tb/s per fiber pair for the new infrastructure, allowing customers to access its 100Gb/s/400Gb/s Colt IQ network.
All connectivity services are designed to be highly secure in accordance with the safety and security regulations of the Channel Tunnel.
Colt said the services will provide more capacity than submarine cables and will be placed in a highly protected environment unaffected by piracy, anchors, commercial fishing or shipping. Herve Jost, director of Eurotunnel/Getlink connectivity solutions at Colt Technology Services, explained: "We are pleased to announce the successful completion of this step in this important project. Today, approximately 80% of Internet traffic between the UK and mainland Europe travels through the Channel Tunnel. Increasing bandwidth, enhancing performance, improving reliability and strengthening the security of our network is critical. This is essential to ensure continuous and uninterrupted data flow, especially to address peak demand and new bandwidth requirements within the Channel Tunnel driven by new technologies such as AI and Metaverse. Our new fibre optic cable in the tunnel will transform the underground rail link between the UK and mainland Europe into a major data route to support the anticipated traffic growth in the coming years."
