BT unveils Global Fabric platform to enhance AI connectivity

BT has announced the activation of its new Global Fabric platform, a network-as-a-service (NaaS) offering, following two months of intensive live testing.

The Global Fabric platform aims to streamline connections for businesses to integrate with employees, customers, and devices, facilitating access to applications and digital services across multiple cloud environments, including those supporting artificial intelligence (AI). The service is set to officially launch in early 2025.

Global Fabric promises scalability and secure, resilient high-capacity connectivity, aligning with the increasing complexity of AI-driven technologies. It is designed for rapid adjustments, a departure from the weeks-long process typical with traditional networks, enabling businesses to swiftly manage unpredictable increases in data traffic.

BT has established Global Fabric 'points of presence' (PoPs) in over 45 major cloud data centres globally, with an expansion target of 140 PoPs. These locations will offer customers diverse options to connect with Global Fabric services, allowing them to meet specific operational, market, and regulatory requirements.

For customers lacking network connections to the PoPs within cloud data centres, BT provides the option to order new links to ensure readiness for the Global Fabric service launch.

In addition to network capabilities, BT is introducing a demo of Global Fabric's digital management portal. By November, IT teams of customer organisations will have the opportunity to test and optimise their multi-cloud network configurations and explore application programmable interfaces (APIs). These APIs are expected to enhance the integration of Global Fabric connectivity into other digital business platforms, supporting business innovation and growth.

Colin Bannon, Chief Technology Officer of BT Business, expressed optimism about the platform's impact, stating: "BT's Global Fabric will help customers hit the cloud running. It will give them a choice of the world's best cloud locations to interconnect with their customers, partners and suppliers, making them easier to do business with not just today but tomorrow too. With the achievement of our latest Global Fabric delivery milestones, we take another step closer to a new age of AI-ready, digital interconnectivity."

The core network hardware for Global Fabric is installed in major carrier-neutral facilities globally, which include datacentres that host cloud providers, software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, alongside network operators. These facilities serve as connectivity gateways, simplifying the process for customers aiming to link sites, business partners, and applications across a multi-cloud setup.