COLT, a provider of business communications in Europe, has launched Fastnet Ultra, a new range of services for 2010 designed to meet demand for low-latency trading networks.
Fastnet Ultra will include low-latency connectivity using wavelength or Ethernet services, fast trading routes between key financial centres, proximity hosting services for 20 European exchanges, and connectivity services for multilateral trading facilities. All of the solutions will be supported by a guaranteed service level agreement, which will ensure a consistent level of latency and no fluctuations as a result of fixed, defined and un-contended paths through the network.
COLT’s new suite of services is based on two recent technological developments. The company upgraded its pan-European network using technology from optical network provider Infinera, enabling the Fastnet Ultra services to deliver data at 1.6 terabits per second at a low latency. The firm has also reduced latency on critical trading routes between key financial centres including London, Chicago, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
“Today, every electronic financial transaction is a race and there are no silver medals – the winner takes all in just a few milliseconds,” said Terry Quigley, head of industry practices in COLT’s major Enterprise Division. “Technology is enabling the new trading opportunities and strategies and is now emerging as a true differentiator for organisations, hence our introduction of the COLT Fastnet Ultra family of services. We have invested in the technology to ensure latency is reliable and optimised for our customers and we have the service level agreements to support our offerings.”