DE-CIX Frankfurt has become the first Internet Exchange worldwide to deploy an 800 gigabit Ethernet (GE) port, connecting German fibre network operator Deutsche Glasfaser using Nokia’s new 800G-ZR+ single-lambda optics.
The milestone marks a step change in the global interconnection industry, doubling data performance while improving efficiency and lowering energy use.
The deployment connects Deutsche Glasfaser, one of Germany’s largest fibre providers, to Europe’s biggest Internet Exchange, operated by DE-CIX. The company now has a total capacity of more than 1.6 terabits per second at the Frankfurt site.
“With the 800 GE port at DE-CIX Frankfurt, we are setting a new standard for the future viability of our network infrastructure,” said Pascal Koster, Deutsche Glasfaser’s Chief Operating Officer. “This provides the foundation for the Internet of tomorrow — faster, more stable, and more sustainable for millions of users.”
At the core of the upgrade are Nokia’s 800G-ZR+ optics, which transmit 800 gigabits per second on a single wavelength. The technology removes the need to aggregate multiple wavelengths, reducing hardware, cabling, and power requirements.
Dr Thomas King, DE-CIX’s Chief Technology Officer, said the new system was fully automated during installation. “To connect Deutsche Glasfaser, we installed high-performance 800 GE-capable routers from Nokia. The provisioning of routers, optics, and ports was fully automated — and took just a few hours,” he said.
DE-CIX, which introduced 800 GE access technology in Frankfurt in 2022, said automation of its platform and processes was key to building a scalable “Interconnection as a Service” model across its global ecosystem.
The announcement also underscores DE-CIX’s long-standing partnership with Nokia, which has provided routing and optical transmission solutions to the exchange operator for more than a decade. “With 800G-ZR+ single-lambda optics, we are jointly setting new standards for efficient, scalable, and automatable network infrastructures,” said Matthieu Bourguignon, Senior Vice-President for Europe at Nokia Networks Infrastructure.
The development comes as data traffic continues to surge. DE-CIX reported a record 68 exabytes of global traffic in 2024 — a 15% increase on the previous year — with Frankfurt alone accounting for 45 exabytes, up 13% year-on-year.
Founded in 1995, DE-CIX operates Internet Exchanges in 60 locations worldwide, serving more than 1,000 networks. Deutsche Glasfaser, backed by EQT and OMERS, is one of Germany’s fastest-growing fibre operators, investing over €10 billion in the rollout of fibre-to-the-home connections, particularly in rural and suburban regions.
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