Arelion sought to enhance global connectivity and assurance with a low-latency, simplified, and sustainable converged IP and optical network—while reducing both OpEx and CapEx.
Since 1993, Arelion has been building and expanding a network that now spans 75,000 km across Europe, North America, and Asia. Connecting with over 2750 customers in more than 128 countries, Arelion provides a crucial internet backbone for businesses worldwide. Mattias B. Fridström, Vice President and Chief Evangelist, emphasizes Arelion’s vision “to be the best connectivity provider we can be, and hopefully then the best connectivity provider in the world.”
With a network that supports 70% of global internet routes and boasts double the capacity of their closest competitor, Arelion faces significant challenges in meeting the demands of an ever-evolving digital landscape. The rise of distributed, dynamic services and the increasing demands of AI data centers have rendered traditional interconnect models inadequate. To stay ahead of this evolution, Arelion must scale the delivery of low-latency, reliable connectivity while simplifying and sustaining their routing infrastructure.
At the same time, the company is tasked with improving network programmability and assurance, all while maintaining operational efficiency and controlling costs. Adding to these pressures is the shift in customer needs.
To tackle these challenges, Arelion partnered with Cisco to leverage innovative solutions like Cisco Routed Optical Networking with coherent optics, Silicon One-based Cisco 8000 Series Routers, assurance, and automation platforms. To Arelion, this collaboration is about more than just technology, it’s about achieving business and sustainability goals while improving outcomes and experience for their customers.
To that end, Arelion was an early adopter of Routed Optical Networking, recognizing the immense potential for cost savings and scalability. As Fridström explains, Routed Optical Networking “opens up doors for us to be in many more locations in cities where we earlier couldn’t be because we had to build a very expensive solution … Now we can populate that building with a very tiny router and we can use IP over DWDM between them,” which helps simplify network architecture and management, while reducing overall costs.
Arelion’s implementation of Cisco technologies delivered transformative results across their network. Coherent optics trials with the Cisco 800ZR+ over 1069 km demonstrated impressive savings of up to 66% in CapEx and 95% in OpEx, and an even longer reach of 2253 km with Cisco 400G ultra-long-haul solutions saw savings of up to 35% in CapEx and 84% in OpEx, compared to legacy systems. These cost efficiencies empowered Arelion to expand their global network footprint while reinvesting in innovation.
Additionally, Cisco Routed Optical Networking solutions can help reduce energy consumption, which is critical for a network of Arelion’s scale. “Every watt we can save is good,” noted Fridström, emphasizing lower energy usage not only cuts operational costs but also aligns with their sustainability goals and helps manage rising energy costs in markets like Europe.
The Cisco Silicon One architecture also played a pivotal role in simplifying network operations and enhancing scalability. Cisco Silicon One provides a unified architecture for Cisco 8000 Series Routers, which helps reduce complexity, improves energy consumption, and provides a more scalable infrastructure.
With such a large network, reliability and transparency are critical. Arelion employs Cisco’s programmable solutions and API-first philosophy to ensure flexibility and scalability in network management. Tools like Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance (formerly Accedian Skylight) and Cisco Crosswork Network Automation empower Arelion to maintain exceptional service levels by optimizing network automation, performance, and monitoring—while resolving issues proactively.
Arelion gained the visibility and intelligence to better understand the data traversing their network. This insight allowed Arelion to communicate critical information to customers in an intuitive and transparent way, improving the overall customer experience.
“We work with Cisco on transparency, understanding the data … and then relay that data to customers in a smart way so they understand what’s going on,” explained Fridström. This collaboration not only enhances transparency but also enables Arelion to build a more diverse and reliable network, underscoring their dedication to creating a superior customer experience.
Building on this foundation of reliability and transparency, Arelion is now unlocking new monetization opportunities through AI. By optimizing traffic management and leveraging advanced analytics, Arelion can enhance transparency, offer self-service options for customers, and move forward on their journey toward self-healing networks. These capabilities not only improve efficiency but also redefine the customer experience in an AI-driven ecosystem.
“The AI opportunity—we’ve just scratched the surface,” stated Fridström. “There’s a lot of information coming out of Cisco routers that we can use to help our customers understand more and to help ourselves better understand the network.” This data allows Arelion to deliver unparalleled transparency to customers while enabling AI to optimize network operations for reduced costs and streamlined management.
With Cisco Agile Services Networking as a cornerstone, Arelion is exploring ways to harness AI, both for operational improvements and to capture new revenue streams. As AI-driven architectures continue to reshape the industry, Arelion is positioned to remain at the forefront of connectivity, ready to meet the evolving demands of the digital future.
Arelion is leading the charge in shaping the future of global connectivity through innovation, sustainability, and a customer-first approach. By embracing new technologies and addressing the challenges of a rapidly evolving internet ecosystem, Arelion is building a network that is reliable, efficient, and prepared for the demands of tomorrow. Arelion’s strategic vision focuses on creating scalable, flexible, and efficient solutions that empower enterprises and communities across the globe.
