BT Teams with Google Cloud to Build AI-Ready Networks
The AI revolution faces a significant infrastructure challenge reminiscent of early automotive history. Just as high-performance cars needed new roads to reach their potential, today's AI workloads demand network capabilities beyond what legacy systems can provide.
BT's international division, under the leadership of CEO Bas Burger, has recently provided insight into a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to address these limitations.
Legacy Networks: the congested roads of digital traffic
Multinational companies increasingly recognise that traditional networks, designed for predictable office-based workflows, cannot meet the demands of modern AI applications.
"When I talk to BT's multinational customers, they say it's the end of the road for legacy networks. Like motorists 100 years ago, they realise that slow is the new down," explains Bas.
The comparison with automotive history proves apt. A century ago, cars evolved faster than the infrastructure needed to support them. Similarly, AI capabilities have outpaced the networks carrying them, creating a bottleneck that constrains innovation and performance.
Most enterprise networks were built for an era when users accessed applications and data stored in company-owned data centres. Traffic patterns were predictable, connectivity requirements rarely changed and modifications to network configurations could take weeks to implement. However, this kind of infrastructure cannot handle the unpredictable nature of AI workloads.
The unique challenges of AI traffic
AI applications present unique networking challenges that traditional infrastructures struggle to address. Training large language models can create a sudden surge in bandwidth demand, leading to network congestion that affects AI performance and other applications.
The distributed nature of AI workloads compounds these difficulties. Users may be scattered across multiple locations, while the applications themselves often span different cloud environments. Legacy networks lack the flexibility and intelligence to optimise these complex traffic patterns.
Global Fabric: the new digital motorway
BT's answer to these challenges is Global Fabric, a next-generation network-as-a-service platform designed specifically for AI-centric workloads.
"At BT, we pride ourselves on delivering rock-solid foundations for our customers' digital business. We understand AI demands and are building a brand-new network-as-a-service (NaaS) platform designed specifically to meet its needs," says Bas.
Global Fabric enables multinational customers to access connectivity on demand to various third-party cloud, AI and SaaS providers. The platform offers unprecedented flexibility, allowing companies to select routes, connectivity types, scale, locations and services instantaneously, and make changes whenever necessary.
"With Global Fabric, we want AI to run best on BT wherever customers are, wherever the data is. That's a huge ambition that demands an extraordinary scale. No single network provider can do this on their own," Bas acknowledges.
The power of partnership
Recognising the scale of the challenge, BT has deepened its partnership with Google Cloud, combining Global Fabric with Google's Cloud WAN. The collaboration leverages Google's planet-scale network to optimise AI performance while managing costs.
- An extensive global network
- Infrastructure engineered specifically for speed
- One of the most resilient network architectures available
- Optimised outcomes for enterprise customers
According to BT, the partnership includes pre-integrating Google's low-latency subsea optical links into Global Fabric, which provides customers with high-speed, reliable routes for digital workloads accessible through Global Fabric's web portal.
Expanding cloud connectivity
The collaboration between BT and Google Cloud extends beyond technical integration. BT will offer Google Cloud Partner Interconnect via Global Fabric in 50 major cloud locations worldwide, expanding to 70 by 2026.
The service will provide customers with instant connectivity to Google Cloud, backed by a 99.99% reliable service level agreement jointly supported by both companies.
"BT will continue to deepen its collaboration with Google Cloud to ensure reliable, direct and the fastest low-latency access to Google and Google Cloud services across BT's network," confirms Bas.
The historical parallel between automotive infrastructure and network evolution highlights the critical importance of appropriate foundations for transformative technologies.
Just as motorways and autobahns enabled the full potential of automotive transportation, BT and Google Cloud's partnership aims to create digital highways capable of supporting AI's revolutionary potential.
"For customers on their AI journey, our partnership with Google Cloud offers a high-speed route to success. Traffic restrictions are being lifted. A brand new hyperscale highway awaits," Bas concludes.
As enterprises accelerate their AI initiatives, the collaboration between BT and Google Cloud represents an important development in ensuring that network infrastructure keeps pace with computational advancements, removing a critical barrier to AI adoption and optimisation.
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