Microsoft connects Azure cloud data centres with global fibre network

Microsoft continues push towards cloud and subscription services with network upgrades

Software giant Microsoft is completing a global fibre network intended to connect all of its cloud data centres as it shifts towards a subscription and cloud computing business model.

According to David Crowley, managing director of network enablement, the company has spent the past nine months putting the network together in order to connect Azure data centres in the US, UK, Europe and Asia, with the aim of providing cloud services in every part of the world.

Deals with Hibernia and Aqua Comms will enable Microsoft to connect its data centres in North America, Ireland and the UK with subsea and dark fibre network connections. "These cables will help deliver data at higher speeds, with higher capacity and lower latency for our customers across the globe," wrote Crowley in a blog post.

He continued: "Additionally, we joined a consortium comprised of China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Chunghwa Telecom, KT Corporation with TE SubCom as the cable supplier. As part of our participation in the consortium, Microsoft will invest in its first physical landing station in the US connecting North America to Asia.

"The New Cross Pacific (NCP) cable network will provide faster data connections for customers, aid Microsoft in competing on cloud costs, all while creating jobs and spurring local economies. The goal of our expansions and investments in subsea cables is so our customers have the greatest access to scale and highly available data, anywhere."

Improving the network connectivity between data centres will help Microsoft to provide cloud services to organisations running in different countries and on different continents, while also improving Azure's own resilience and high availability. Microsoft's Azure cloud has been hit by a number of outages in recent years, which the network upgrades should help to address.