Backbone Directory: Cable & Wireless

Cable & Wireless' U.S. Internet backbone consists of multiple OC-48 trunks. The network operates on a bi-level hierarchy utilizing core and edge technologies.

Current Network Status

The core level is constructed of FORE switches running ATM protocol over inter-nodal trunks and Juniper M40 and M160 routers as the primary routing engines. Cisco 7000 and Cisco 7500 series routers are utilized for the network edge layer. Each network node is at least dual-homed for redundancy.

Also, the Cable & Wireless U.S. Backbone is designed to be completely redundant and capacity is sized and maintained to provide non-blocking, non-congested service.

Cable & Wireless is actively building a high capacity global IP Network utilizing a single autonomous system AS3561. The core IP infrastructure has been designed to carrier class standards and will support real-time services such as voice, video and ATM-based integrated access services for both wholesale and retail markets. By April 2001, Cable & Wireless will connect many major cities in the world via a single network operating at up to 10 Giga Bits per second (GBps).

According to C&W, its network could transmit the entire content of the Library of Congress from Washington to New York in seven seconds. The company owns 460,000 km of undersea fiber optic cable world wide, making it the world's second largest owner of cable capacity—enough cable to circle the equator 11.5 times.

Major hub cities
[U.S.] Anaheim CA,  Atlanta GA, Baltimore,  Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati OH, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City MO, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh NC, Reston VA, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose CA, Tampa FL, Washington DC [International] Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, New York City, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Washington DC