The Brief: BT has announced the introduction of its Global Fabric, a new network-as-a-service (NaaS) platform, with services set to launch in early 2025. Designed to enhance multi-cloud connectivity, the platform provides resilient, high-capacity, and scalable solutions, helping businesses securely connect to applications and services, including AI-driven technologies. Over 45 Global Fabric points of presence (PoPs) have been installed in major cloud data centers globally, with plans to expand to 140 locations. Customers can begin experimenting with network configurations through a demo portal by November 2024, preparing them for the full service launch.
Learn full details of the announcement about Global Fabric at newsroom.bt.com.
Analyst Perspective: BT’s introduction of Global Fabric represents a notable step toward more efficient and flexible multi-cloud management. The platform’s ability to provide real-time network configuration, coupled with its support for Zero Trust security, is critical in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. For industries relying on cloud services, such as AI, data analytics, and SaaS applications, this offers a significant advantage in terms of both performance and security.
The pay-as-you-go model also allows businesses to scale their operations without the burden of long-term contracts, ensuring cost efficiency. Organizations can maintain operational resilience while reducing their environmental footprint with Global Fabric's global reach and focus on sustainability. This new NaaS platform promises to be a powerful tool for businesses navigating the complexities of cloud connectivity.
BT’s Global Fabric enables businesses to connect quickly and securely to multiple clouds, ensuring seamless integration of applications and services. This platform is designed to reduce the time it takes to establish or adjust network connections—what used to take weeks can now happen instantly. Such operational agility is especially beneficial for industries dealing with dynamic data traffic, like AI or data analytics. Furthermore, with over 45 PoPs already operational and plans to reach 140 by early 2025, customers will have a broad selection of data centers worldwide to access these services, tailored to their specific operational and regulatory needs.
The platform’s real-time management portal allows businesses to optimize their network settings with ease. By November, IT teams can access a demo to test Global Fabric’s multi-cloud configurations and APIs. This flexibility enables customers to experiment with and prepare for the platform’s full capabilities upon launch. The platform supports Zero-Trust security models, protecting users, devices, and applications without compromising network performance. Additionally, Global Fabric’s embedded DDoS protection enhances its appeal to businesses that require both security and performance.
Global Fabric’s pay-as-you-go model allows businesses to manage costs flexibly while benefiting from its advanced connectivity features. This model ensures there’s no contract lock-in, which is ideal for organizations undergoing digital transformation or dealing with fluctuating demands. Businesses can easily switch between services such as IP VPN, internet, and ethernet. Customers will find the platform suitable for diverse digital business needs with 630 pre-integrated cloud products, including SaaS and Office 365.
BT has designed Global Fabric with a focus on sustainability and resilience. It operates using 100% renewable energy, boasting a carbon footprint 79% lower than BT’s existing MPLS network. The platform’s robust design ensures high performance even in the event of network failures. These sustainability and resiliency measures align with the growing demand for environmentally conscious technologies, positioning BT as a leader in both innovation and responsible business practices.
As BT prepares to launch Global Fabric in 2025, the platform promises to address growing connectivity challenges for businesses relying on multi-cloud environments. Its real-time network management and scalable infrastructure are expected to meet the increasing demands of AI-driven applications and data-intensive operations. However, businesses will need to ensure they are ready to integrate these advanced services seamlessly into their existing systems.
While Global Fabric's flexibility and pay-as-you-use model may reduce operational costs, companies may face challenges in fully leveraging the platform without robust IT support. As more organizations adopt cloud-centric strategies, Global Fabric's role in enabling secure, efficient, and resilient connectivity is poised to become essential for businesses looking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.