BT International announced on October 14, 2026, that it expanded its Global Fabric network-as-a-service platform with integrated security service edge options from Cisco, Fortinet, Netskope, and Zscaler.
Integration of four SSE vendors
BT International stated that its Global Fabric network-as-a-service (NaaS) platform now provides optimized connectivity to security service edge (SSE) products from Cisco, Fortinet, Netskope, and Zscaler. The company said the integration enables multinational enterprise customers to choose more predictable, higher-performance routing for application traffic.
According to BT, the feature is designed to support customer deployments of AI agents, cloud applications, and autonomous workflows. The carrier noted that the service links into Global Fabric's network underlay to provide proactive network management, unified security enforcement, and application performance within a single environment.
Routing architecture and peering
BT International stated that conventional SSE implementations often require traffic to transit multiple third-party internet networks before reaching inspection infrastructure. In contrast, Global Fabric directs traffic into vendor security and cloud environments at designated cloud sites worldwide.
According to the company, the architecture relies on Internet exchange point (IXP) peering to cut path latency and propagation delay for SD-WAN internet breakouts. BT reported that the setup provides path diversity between Global Fabric sites and SSE points of presence (PoPs), using intelligent routing to bypass third-party internet service providers while transitioning toward a self-healing network.
Addressing agentic AI demands
The company reported that increasing enterprise adoption of AI is changing network traffic patterns, as software agents and connected devices demand greater bandwidth and lower latency across multiple clouds. Matt Swinden, managing director of strategy and product at BT International, said that agentic AI requires real-time access to cloud applications and data, requiring enhanced network resilience and performance.
Yash Jethani, principal analyst at ISG, said in the announcement that the convergence of networking and security provides a cloud-delivered operating model needed for global consistency across digital workflows and AI systems. Separately, BT Group stated that its International unit is scheduled to be contributed into a new joint venture in the second half of 2027.
Key facts and where they come from
- BT International expanded its Global Fabric platform to connect directly to SSE services from Cisco, Fortinet, Netskope, and Zscaler.
BT’s AI-ready networking platform now offers optimised connectivity to security service edge (SSE) solutions from Cisco, Fortinet, Netskope and Zscaler.
- The network integration is intended to support the scale of AI agents, cloud applications, and automated workflows.
The new capability can help customers rapidly scale use of AI agents, cloud applications and autonomous digital workflows.
- Global Fabric connects directly to security vendors at strategic cloud hubs rather than routing over general third-party internet paths.
Unlike traditional SSE deployments, where traffic may cross many third-party internet networks before reaching a security inspection point, Global Fabric provides optimised connectivity to the vendors’ security and cloud ecosystems
- Internet exchange point peering is used to cut latency and propagation delay on SD-WAN internet breakouts.
Enhanced SD-WAN & SSE (SASE) service quality via Internet exchange point (IXP) peering – strengthening BT’s SD-WAN internet breakout performance by minimising path latency and propagation delay.
- BT International is planned to move into a new joint venture during the second half of 2027.
contributed into a new joint venture, expected to complete in the second half of 2027.
