GTT to upgrade global IP network to 400G

May 10, 2022

The connectivity provider says the enhancement will enable it to deal with double-digit increases in IP traffic while improving network scalability and the ability to offer higher-capacity options for GTT’s suite of enhanced internet and WAN services.

Stephen Hardy

GTT Communications, Inc. says it will upgrade its global Tier 1 IP network with 400G transmission capabilities. The connectivity provider says the enhancement will enable it to deal with double-digit increases in IP traffic while improving network scalability and the ability to offer higher-capacity options for GTT’s suite of enhanced internet and WAN services.

The phased rollout will focus initially on metro city locations and expand to GTT’s core IP switching and routing fabric that links more than 260 cities on six continents. GTT expects to finish the initial upgrade phase during the second half of 2023.

GTT says it plans to add 400G capabilities to multiple network layers, including the core IP backbone, metro extensions, and customer service nodes as demand dictates. Juniper Networks will supply the necessary IP networking gear. In addition to the capacity increase, the Juniper Network systems will provide greater flexibility for optimized WAN performance and enhanced efficiency, GTT states. The global IP network upgrade also will feature telemetry capabilities that will the network to scale higher and converge faster, the company adds.

“The scalability and performance advantages of GTT’s global Tier 1 IP network is a cornerstone to what makes GTT stand out from the other managed network service providers,” commented Don MacNeil, GTT COO. “This comprehensive network upgrade to 400G demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with the most advanced internet networking platform so that they can realize maximum business benefits from managed SD-WAN as well as the full array of enhanced internet services that GTT offers, and it is among a number of key initiatives on our transformation roadmap that leverage the latest AI and digital technologies.”

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.