Colt Technologies and Console Connect collaborate on API interoperability

Two high performance network providers – Colt Technology and PCCW Global’s Console Connect – have announced the completion of the first stage of an API interoperability project between their global, on-demand SDN-enabled platforms.

In a joint release the companies said that the collaboration was a recognition of the networks’ “mutual commitment to end-to-end automation, as well as the need for increased interoperability and collaboration to orchestrate connectivity among networks”.

The providers claimed that interoperability between the two platforms would also enable enterprises to benefit from on-demand, agile networking and interconnect directly to clouds, data centres, and business partners across both private networks.

Making the APIs interoperable, they added, would also enable the “seamless quoting, ordering and provisioning of on-demand services” between the two networks in real-time.

The initial integration will also give Hong Kong-based Console Connect more coverage in the UK, with plans afoot to extend its automated platform reach into new data centre locations, and to expand to more enterprise locations and metro areas throughout Europe – drawing on the speed and performance of Colt’s 100Gbps optimised IQ Network.

Console Connect’s current global coverage includes over 650 data centres across more than 55 countries worldwide.

Headquartered in the UK, Colt’s IQ network is distributed to more than 900 data centres and over 29,000 on-net buildings across Europe, Asia and North America’s largest business hubs.

The companies added that further stages of the API integration will include extending the automated reach of Colt’s On Demand platform to more global markets using Console Connect’s Tier 1 global IP network.

According to Console Connect chief executive Marc Halbfinger, APIs are crucial to the advancement of automated network services and enabled carriers to work together in “new and innovative ways”.

Keri Gilder chief executive of Colt Technology Services added: “APIs continue to be a major focus area in our industry, and our collaboration will help us to continue to transform the way businesses interact with each other and how they provide value to their customers by optimising automation, improving collaboration, simplifying innovation and enhancing security.”