Colt Technology Services (COLT) has partnered with connectivity solutions company STL (Sterlite Technologies) to conduct a successful trial of a new Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) cable — specifically STL’s Multiverse™ Multi-Core 4-core Fibre — across Colt’s metro optical network in London.
Designed to deliver high-capacity data transmission in a cost-effective backbone, the new cable was built with the same cladding diameter as standard Single-Mode Fibre (SMF) cables—keeping coating sizes at 250/200 micrometres. The trial, which took place within Colt’s London Metro network between two Points of Presence (PoPs), covered distances of approximately 9km and 63km.
The trial achieved an impressive line rate of 800Gbps, validating support for 100GE and 400GE services. Extensive testing was conducted, including Chromatic Dispersion (CD), Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD), Crosstalk, throughput, fault analysis, OTDR, loss, and Optical Return Loss (ORL), all of which delivered satisfactory results, affirming the cable’s performance.
Buddy Bayer, COO of Colt, emphasized the significance: “As demand for network capacity surges, customers require more bandwidth without sacrificing security, performance, or sustainability. This pilot demonstrates Colt’s commitment to pushing optical networking boundaries and delivering future-ready, sustainable networks across Europe and the USA to meet growing digital demands cost-effectively.”
Dr. Badri Gomatam, CTO of STL, added: “Collaborative innovation like this accelerates the evolution of optical infrastructure. STL’s Multiverse MCF portfolio is designed to meet the high-density, ultra-low latency, and resilient connectivity needs of AI, hyperscale cloud, and next-generation digital ecosystems worldwide.”
Multi-Core Fibre cables are emerging as a promising solution for increasing throughput within similar-sized cables, making them particularly valuable for data centers, national fiber networks, and submarine cables. However, their deployment involves complex splicing and standardization challenges. Additionally, they may face competition from Hollow-Core Fibres (HCF), which offer even lower latency but are still in developmental stages and potentially more costly.
STL is among the pioneers bringing MCF technology from the lab into real-world environments, spanning underground and duct networks with a comprehensive ecosystem of fibres, cables, and termination solutions. This trial provides critical validation that could pave the way for broader deployment in future high-demand network infrastructures.
