How the World's Largest Backbone Provider is Leveraging the AI Opportunity - CSSAI-1596#
Cisco Live Europe 2026 (Amsterdam) digest Program Core pick Amsterdam · 9–13 February 2026
Abeel Choudry (Cisco), Dariusz Solowiej Solowiej (Arelion)
- Why: Arelion carries ~70% of global internet routes — backbone-scale evidence of what converged IP/optical architecture does at the extreme end of WAN. Treat the headline percentages with appropriate skepticism; the scale detail is the value.
- What: How Arelion claims to have achieved 66% CapEx and 95% OpEx reduction while repositioning for AI-driven traffic, via Routed Optical Networking with coherent optics, Silicon One-based Cisco 8000 routers, and automated assurance (from abstract only).
- How: Network convergence collapsing transport layers, plus automation/analytics for service assurance and moves toward self-healing networks and self-service capabilities.
- Where applicable: Arelion-specific — a single global backbone operator with twice its nearest competitor's capacity. The percentages are vendor-co-presented and unaudited; the architectural direction (coherent pluggables in routed ports, heavy automation) is where the whole industry is heading. Watch for whether they give real before/after operational detail.