Ethernet-based communications provider Optimum Lightpath has introduced its 40-gigabit optical transport service for the New York metropolitan area. The new service is available throughout Optimum Lightpath's entire footprint and based on a simple, flat-rate pricing-model, stated the release.

According to Chris Rabii, Optimum Lightpath's SVP of technical operations, the 40 gigabit optical transport service is geared to meet the financial industry's demands for speed, bandwidth, security and reliability.

"Initially we expect uptake of the service in the finance market. The sheer volume of data that is piped through networks of financial institutions and the speed at which it must be delivered grows every day. And the extremely high importance of this data " which can include customer information or a trade to be executed " demands the extreme low latency, security and resiliency that a 40 gigabit optical transport service can deliver," said Rabil in an emailed response. "As financial institutions such as trading desks continue to differentiate services based around speed, security and reliability, Optimum Lightpath can help in positioning them for success," added Rabil in the email.

Demand for 40 -gigabit services has emerged due to ever-increasing needs for high-bandwidth capacity and extremely low latency, particularly in the New York metropolitan are, which hosts the largest concentration of financial institutions in the country, according to Optimum Lightpath. Given that in fast-paced financial markets, every microsecond matters, the company argues that firms can make more precise trades and have better security to ensure the data is safe if they had a 40 gigabit optional transport service.

While subscribing to 10 gigabit links has largely served this need to date, a move to 40 gigabit can also deliver better network efficiencies for businesses and provide a platform built to handle ongoing demand increases for the foreseeable future, according to the company's release. Among the key benefits that Optimum Lightpath's 40 gigabit optional transport service introduces are: more bandwidth; speed to support extremely low latency services; the ability to consolidate multiple 10 gigabit links to improve network operations and efficiencies; scalability to support 100 gigabit services when the needed, simple pricing with no mileage charges or hidden fees; and resilience through diverse and redundant network routing.

The new service protects business data by providing low-latency, high security, and a high-speed optional service based on Wave Division Multiplexing technology and is positioned to support 40 gigabit Ethernet when it becomes standardized.