Service provider Virtustream has announced it is teaming up with Zayo Group to provide backhaul connectivity to its London data centres.

The project, due for completion later this year, will see Zayo supply its ‘dark fibre’ network, which currently spans 252 route miles across London capital, to Virtustream’s data centres in the capital.

Zayo will also provide managed WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) services, which can help minimise data loss in the event of a faculty failure, between Virtustream’s data centres and its Telehouse East base in London’s Docklands area.

Dark fibre networks take advantage of the capacity in unused optical fibres, which are often installed wholesale before being allocated to seperate network service providers.

"Zayo’s focus on investment in network capacity in London and Slough made them an excellent choice for us and our customers" says Luiz Vianna, managing director for the United Kingdom and Israel at Virtustream.

"In addition, their extended reach in Europe allows for growth as we continue to expand our services into these key markets."

Last week, Virtustream was included in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for its IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) offering, .

Zayo says it has 77,000 miles of fibre across the US and Europe.

Alastair Kane, European vice-president for Zayo Group, says "We view Slough as our second metro area network in the United Kingdom. By providing these new routes to the Virtustream data centres, both Virtustream and Zayo customers will benefit."