Posted: 17th Jan, 2006 By: MarkJ
UK ISP Zen Internet has improved its network connections to the USA (New York) through the installation of a new STM-16 link:
The benefits of this link for Zen customers will include having a resilient link outside the points of presence in London and Manchester. Unlike many other UK ISPs, Zen is not totally dependent on any single Point of Presence. Although a major network outage in London would have serious consequences for the Internet in the UK, the effect on Zens customers would be minimised as Zen have their own direct connection to the USA and, therefore, to the rest of the world.
The link also ensures that Zens network will have plenty of capacity to handle future growth. Zen already has excess external connectivity, but they always build out their network well in advance of customer's requirements.
The link will also give Zen a more direct path and, therefore, lower latency to many sites in the USA. The cable takes a very direct physical route from the UK to the USA, with Southport being about the nearest coastal point to Rochdale where Zen is based! The link will also allow the potential for Zen to develop products to allow customers to take advantage of this new capability.