Colt Completes New Dark Fibre Link via the Channel Tunnel
Colt Technology Services has confirmed the completion of a new multi-Terabit speed capable Dark Fibre (G.652D/G.657) cable along the Channel Tunnel, which runs between the UK (Folkestone, Kent) and France (Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais) under the English Channel sea.
The successful deployment follows the signing of an exclusive new 25-year concession agreement between Colt and Getlink in September 2021 (here). As a result of the latest work, Colt now boasts a transfer rate of several Tbps (Terabits per second) per fibre pair with the new infrastructure, with customers thus gaining access to their 100Gbps/400Gbps Colt IQ network.
In case anybody didn’t know, the Channel Tunnel (Euro Tunnel) is the longest undersea rail tunnel in the world: its section under the sea is 38km long (over 50km if you include the under-land sections), although it is actually composed of three tunnels, each 50km long, bored at an average 40 metres below the sea bed.
Advertisement
The original announcement suggested that the deal would generate a minimum of €185m over the period for Getlink, with more than a third secured over the first 5-years.
Herve Jost, Colt’s Director of Eurotunnel/Getlink Connectivity Solutions, said:
“We are pleased to announce the successful completion of this step of this important project. Approximately 80% of the internet traffic which runs between the UK and mainland Europe today travels through the Channel Tunnel. It is crucial to increase the bandwidth, enhance performance, bolster reliability, and fortify the security of our network.
This is vital to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted flow of data, specifically to address peak demand and new bandwidth needs within the Channel Tunnel, driven by new technologies such as AI and Metaverse. Our new fibre cable in the Tunnel will transform the subterranean rail link between the UK and mainland Europe into a major data route to support the anticipated growth in traffic over the coming years.”
As part of the deal, Colt carried out the installation, while Getlink is responsible for maintenance. Colt is also working to fully commercialise Getlink’s Channel Tunnel optic fibre and increase the network’s capacity.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
« KCOM Build FTTP Broadband to Rural Village of East Cottingwith
80% of traffic over one link represents a very attractive target for Russian economic warfare.
Ample capacity on other links should these fail.
Attacking Eurostar probably a bad idea. Accidents with anchors in the ocean more subtle.
You mean like the Nordstrom pipeline? Oh whoops that was Ukraine
5000 Rubles for Phil. Well done, Comrade.
I hope that they have a backup route available. I was at work when UK France 4 went down due to the lorry fire in the tunnel. Let’s hope that’s not repeated.
You have the same paragraph twice in the article.
“The original announcement suggested that the deal would generate a minimum of €185m over the period for Getlink, with more than a third secured over the first 5-years. As part of the deal, Colt carried out the installation, while Getlink is responsible for maintenance. Colt is also working to fully commercialise Getlink’s Channel Tunnel optic fibre and increase the network’s capacity.”
The heat is getting to me 🙂