Nokia, Windstream Wholesale, and Colt Technology Services have completed an 800 Gigabit Ethernet (800GbE) service trial, linking London and Chicago. The trial covered an 8500 km (5280 miles) route, combining subsea and terrestrial fiber networks. This successful test marks a key milestone in delivering higher capacity and lower latency on transatlantic connections, critical for financial data centers, AI applications, and content delivery networks. The companies used Nokia’s Photonic Service Engine (PSE-6s) coherent optics and 7750 Service Router to drive this service.
The trial showcased how Colt’s transatlantic subsea cable network connects to Windstream Wholesale’s low-latency ICON fiber optic network in the U.S. The partnership enabled 800GbE transport across the Atlantic at 1Tbps optical capacity. The test pushed the boundaries of high-speed data transport, demonstrating how next-gen networking technologies can deliver high-capacity services while reducing power consumption, essential for future networking demands.
With this trial completed, Nokia, Windstream, and Colt aim to make 800GbE a commercial reality, supporting high-bandwidth services like AI, financial trading, and data hubs. The collaboration highlights what’s possible with advanced IP and optical network technologies, paving the way for the next evolution of global connectivity.
• 8500 km (5280 miles) route spanning subsea and terrestrial networks
• First transoceanic 800GbE trial connecting two major financial hubs
• Combined optical and IP technology delivering 1Tbps of capacity
• Target applications include AI, financial trading, and content delivery
• Power efficiency improvements demonstrated alongside bandwidth gains