Nokia Enhances SONiC Support for Data Center Innovation

By combining open-source software with advanced hardware and cutting-edge automation, Nokia is offering a new alternative for modern, efficient, and highly reliable data center networks. Nokia has been a strong supporter of open-source solutions and has been actively involved in the SONiC community for an extended period.

The SONiC community was originally started by Microsoft and the Open Compute Project and is now overseen by the Linux Foundation.Research by 650 Group found that the market for SONiC-enabled data center switching is expected to exceed USD 9 billion by 2028, driven by the growing demand for traditional IT and emerging AI workloads.

Previously, selecting SONiC often meant facing limited options in terms of fabric management and automation when using open-source hardware. Nokia’s expanded portfolio now integrates the SONiC community’s capabilities with its data center switching platforms, whilst also offering access to Nokia’s expert SONiC development and support team. This allows enterprises and cloud providers to access a wider range of advanced data center hardware platforms designed for reliability, power efficiency, and longevity.

Customers will also benefit from Nokia’s Event Driven Automation (EDA) platform, which helps manage and automate SONiC environments, reducing operational costs and minimizing human error and network downtime. For customers who prefer fully integrated solutions with advanced features and dedicated engineering support, Nokia continues to offer its SR Linux network operating system as part of its data center fabric solution.

By supporting both software approaches, Nokia is providing unmatched flexibility in the data center switching market.

Alan Weckel, Co-Founder and Technology Analyst at 650 Group, praised Nokia’s commitment to open-source solutions and its support for SONiC, adding that the enhancement demonstrates Nokia’s dedication to providing innovative solutions for evolving data center needs. Josh Helm, Vice President of Global Network and Edge Offering Enablement at Kyndryl, highlighted the benefits of integrating open-source software with Nokia SR Linux, noting that the integration enables Kyndryl to drive IT modernization, consequently benefiting its customers.

Scott Seger, Senior Vice President Infrastructure and Alliances at CBTS, noted the strong interest in Nokia’s SONiC support for data center switching, especially among financial services clients. Vach Kompella, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nokia’s IP Networks Business Division, emphasized the importance of giving customers the flexibility to choose how they run their networks. Nokia’s solutions support both a vendor NOS similar to SR Linux and an open-networking NOS similar to the SONiC community, providing customers with the freedom to adapt to changing conditions.