Colt and Cisco's 800G route: Future of networking

Colt Technology Services, the digital infrastructure company, announced that it is first to successfully trial Cisco’s 800G ZR+ coherent pluggable optics in its production network using the Cisco 8000 series routers, powered by Cisco Silicon One.

The Routed Optical Networking testing– carried out across the 667 km between Frankfurt and Munich, Germany– is the latest in a series of Colt trials with high-profile global partners designed to rethink technology’s previous limitations as businesses require efficient, low latency, future-ready networking technology for AI, machine learning, API integration and other digital applications.

Cisco’s 800G ZR+ coherent optics

The trial demonstrates that Cisco’s 800G ZR+ coherent optics can double Colt’s packet core capacity per link

The trial showcased how high-performance, energy-efficient networking technology can support businesses on their net zero journey. It demonstrated that the network can handle incredibly high data rates of 800 Gbps –  transferring 1 Terabyte of data in just eleven seconds - and can be flexible in allocating bandwidth where it’s needed most, significantly improving overall efficiency and performance.

The trial demonstrates that Cisco’s 800G ZR+ coherent optics can double Colt’s packet core capacity per link (800G) while reducing power consumption by 33.3%.

Applications based on AI workloads

As Colt integrates the Cisco 800G ZR+ coherent optics and Cisco 8000 routers across its infrastructure from mid-2025, it will offer better, faster, cost-effective services to its customers through its award-winning NaaS platform while contributing to its own goals for carbon reduction.

Colt was an early pioneer of Routed Optical Networking, which brings advantages to businesses located in densely populated metropolitan areas alongside core/aggregation and datacentre interconnect applications based on AI workloads. Routed Optical Networking converges the IP and optical layers into a single, unified layer using high-capacity digital coherent optics to boost efficiency and reduce costs.

Innovative methods

Businesses benefit from cost savings through power reduction and network consolidation

Businesses benefit from cost savings through power reduction and network consolidation; simplification and automation, with easier network management; and capacity optimisation, improving the performance of their network traffic and significantly reducing energy and rack space.

Buddy Bayer, chief operating officer of Colt Technology Services, said, “At Colt, we’re ‘sustainable by design,’ pioneering innovative methods to embed sustainability throughout our entire business. Our collaboration with Cisco to trial the cutting-edge 800G ZR+ technology is a perfect example of this effort, as we work together to create the ultimate high-performance, efficient, scalable network of the future.”

Colt’s latest Digital Infrastructure Report

Multi-vendor interoperability is named as a barrier to achieving environmental impact goals and governance goals by one in five CIOs, in Colt’s latest Digital Infrastructure Report. The Cisco 800G ZR+ coherent pluggable enables interoperability capabilities between partners, using technology designed to maximise performance and reduce power consumption.

Cisco was the first to deliver the 800G ZR+ coherent pluggable optics with the OpenROADM specification which includes interoperable PCS, allowing the seamless connection of devices and other hardware across digital infrastructure ready for workloads such as AI.

Future demands of AI and machine learning

Colt and Cisco have a long track record of uniting to study new technologies that drive clients’ success

Bill Gartner, SVP/GM Cisco Optical Systems and Optics, said: “Modernising infrastructure to be ready for the future demands of AI and machine learning is critical. This groundbreaking trial with Colt highlights Cisco’s blazing-fast data rates using Cisco’s 800G ZR+ coherent pluggable optics and Cisco 8000 series routers powered by Silicon One. This will enable Colt to deliver cutting-edge network innovation that not only boosts efficiency and performance but also helps drive significant cost savings and stride confidently towards their net zero goals.”

Colt and Cisco have a long track record of collaborating to explore new technologies that drive customers’ success and accelerate automation, including Cisco Routed Optical Networking; Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance; Cisco Crosswork Network Automation; and Cisco Silicon One.  

Technical details

The trial utilised the following technologies:

• Cisco 800G ZR+ coherent pluggable optics with Interoperable PCS as defined in OpenROADM for enhanced performance
• Cisco 8711 and 8212 Cisco Silicon One-based platforms
• Third-party line system

Interoperable PCS transmission modules

Colt is the first to field trial 800G ZR+ coherent modules with Interoperable PCS in Cisco Routers

PCS is a transmission shaping technique that provides additional link performance beyond traditional transmission modes such as 16QAM. Industry standardisation of an interoperable PCS transmission shaping function, once relegated to proprietary performance-optimised transponder platforms, including those for submarine applications, is a tremendous leap forward in the progress of MSA pluggable module capabilities.

Colt is the first to field trial 800G ZR+ coherent modules with Interoperable Probabilistic Constellation Shaping (PCS) in Cisco Routers.

Latest 800G Routed Optical Networking trial

Buddy added, “At Colt, we’re the largest pan-European network aggregation provider, and we bring together best-in-class access and a self-service, consumption-based NaaS for our customers."

"The latest 800G Routed Optical Networking trial means we can support our customers’ data transmission rates up to 400Gbps, enhancing speed, flexibility, and cost-efficiency for customers across Europe.”

• Pluggable optics are small, modular devices that can be inserted into network equipment like routers and switches to convert electrical signals into optical signals and vice versa. These modules, often referred to as transceivers, are essential for enabling high-speed data transmission over fibre optic cables.
• In comparison with Colt’s previous 400G ZR+ build. Leveraging 800G coherent technology with the Cisco 8000 powered by Silicon One, Colt can significantly scale up capacity while minimising power and rack space requirements per terabit, supporting sustainable services.
• Trialing an 800G router doesn’t necessarily mean that individual connections can achieve 800Gbps speeds; the capacity is distributed across the network and shared among multiple users and services rather than a single user achieving 800Gbps. The network is designed to balance and allocate bandwidth efficiently based on demand.