Nokia to offer data centre switches to boost Azure bandwidth
The announcement is part of an ongoing collaboration to develop the 'SONiC' networking initiative


Nokia will provide Microsoft with data centre switching hardware to help support the bandwidth growth of Azure.
The announcement is part of an ongoing effort between the two companies to bring highly scalable and secure networking to data centres. Which includes the open-source 'SONiC' initiative to develop chassis-based platforms.
The SONiC initiative, which was announced in May 2020, is an open-source network operating system, based on Linux. The 'chassis-based' implementation is about connecting different networks and having more control over data flows and network packet transfers.
Nokia will supply Microsoft with its 7250 IXR chassis-based interconnect routers which will be used to support "high-density" 400GE applications in Microsoft's 'tier-2' network architecture. The 7250 enables service providers, webscale and enterprise networks to meet increasing traffic demands with high networking performance and reliability to support business growth.
Enterprise switches have more features than smart switches, and they can usually be customised. Enterprise switches are typically found in networks with multiple switches and connections, where centralised management can produce significant savings in time and effort.
Nokia said its data centre switching portfolio meets all Microsoft's requirements, including the ability to scale and provide essential interconnectivity required for modern data centre networks.
This latest step is about meeting the demand for cloud services and cloud computing along with the move to 400GE. In addition to the 7250 IXR, Nokia is also supplying fixed-form-factor platforms to other Microsoft network services.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
"Today's data centres have their own unique operational challenges, and Nokia has been working closely for some time now with Microsoft to understand its evolving data centre needs and requirements," Vach Kompella, vice president, IP Networks Division, Nokia, said. "Our expertise in building high-performance, chassis-based systems was a key factor in our selection."
Bobby Hellard is ITPro's Reviews Editor and has worked on CloudPro and ChannelPro since 2018. In his time at ITPro, Bobby has covered stories for all the major technology companies, such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook, and regularly attends industry-leading events such as AWS Re:Invent and Google Cloud Next.
Bobby mainly covers hardware reviews, but you will also recognize him as the face of many of our video reviews of laptops and smartphones.
-
Bigger salaries, more burnout: Is the CISO role in crisis?
In-depth CISOs are more stressed than ever before – but why is this and what can be done?
By Kate O'Flaherty Published
-
Cheap cyber crime kits can be bought on the dark web for less than $25
News Research from NordVPN shows phishing kits are now widely available on the dark web and via messaging apps like Telegram, and are often selling for less than $25.
By Emma Woollacott Published
-
AWS, Microsoft, and Google see massive cloud opportunities in Japan - here’s why
Analysis AWS’ bid to expand infrastructure in Japan will see it it invest over $15 billion, but it’s not the only hyperscaler that has its eye on big gains in the country
By Solomon Klappholz Published
-
Hyperscaler earnings 'highlight new era of maturity' in global cloud market
News Sluggish earnings for Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS could point to a more moderate cloud market in the year ahead
By Ross Kelly Published
-
Edge-to-cloud security webinar
Whitepaper Safeguards your IoT devices that require Zero Trust
By ITPro Published
-
Successful WAN and security transformation powers the digital enterprise
Whitepaper Applications are delivered in the cloud - security should be too
By ITPro Published
-
Microsoft wins contract to build Singapore's first sovereign cloud
News It hopes the deal will will help keep the city-state “the safest place on the planet”
By Zach Marzouk Published
-
AWS shakes off outages with 40% surge in revenue
News However, analysts warn the cloud giant should be wary of the 'impressive growth' of Microsoft and Google
By Bobby Hellard Published
-
IAR Systems and Secure Thingz partner to streamline Azure IoT migration
News Joint solution expedites device development and deployment for Azure IoT and RTOS platforms
By Praharsha Anand Published
-
Microsoft bolsters Azure with AT&T 5G deal and security collaboration
News The firm acquire’s AT&T’s Network Cloud platform while integrating MITRE's ATT&CK framework
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet Published