Colt Rides Cisco for Ethernet Routing on 5G Backhaul

Colt Technology Services is linking up with Cisco to initiate backhaul sharing among mobile network providers on 5G networks. Colt is now deploying Cisco’s segment routing and Ethernet VPN architecture to enable network operators to be more flexible in how they deliver bandwidth at scale based on characteristics like data rates, latency requirements, and the impact on fiber efficiency. “Backhaul based on Ethernet will allow [mobile network operators] to share more efficient transport connectivity versus procuring a dedicated pair of dark fiber,” Aaron Partouche, principal business development director at Colt, wrote in response to questions. This enables ethernet backhaul to evolve on a network that can “cope dynamically and act flexibly with various service level agreements (SLAs) depending on the applications. Segment routing is one key feature that makes our network more scalable and dynamic.”