Spread Lowers NY-Chicago Latency Yet Again

The ultra-low latency specialist Spread Networks has done it again, cutting another chunk out of the time it takes to send data between New York and Chicago.  They have taken 100 microseconds from the dark fiber offering via continuous route improvements, with latency now at 12.98ms.  Meanwhile, the latency on their fastest wavelength offering has dropped to 14.1ms.

Spread Networks first unveiled its low latency network back in 2010, after building a new fiber route across Pennsylvania in stealth mode.  The 13.33ms dark fiber and 14.6ms wavelength latency has been the mark to beat via fiber, although you can supposedly get data there faster now via microwave in smaller and less reliable chunks.  Earlier this year, however, Verizon challenged Spread’s line in the sand by putting new gear on its older but similarly fast route and offering 14.5ms wavelengths.

Two weeks ago Spread Networks upgraded to 100G via the latest gear from ADVA, which is surely related to today’s latency improvements as well.  One wonders how low the latency on Spread’s route can go, and whether Verizon can match Spread’s newest move on their own route.  High frequency trading is such an important piece of the financial sector these days, I wonder which outfits will get a few hundred extra microseconds to play with and when.

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Categories: Fiber Networks · Low Latency