The rapid development and broader use of agentic AI-enabled applications are reshaping data center requirements, prompting significant advances in networking architectures. Nokia stated that AI is accelerating both hardware innovation and operational transformation, guiding the latest updates to its switching portfolio.
To meet large-scale capacity requirements, the new 7220 IXR-H6 switches deliver throughput of up to 102.4 Tb/s, offering interface speeds of 800 GE and 1.6 TE. This doubles previous throughput and interface speeds within comparable physical space. The switches comply with Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) specifications, supporting features for optimized packet flow management, congestion avoidance, and efficiency across AI factory environments capable of scaling to one million XPUs and more.
The IXR-H6 family supports flexible deployment and is available in liquid-cooled and air-cooled options, enabling integration into varied rack configurations. Nokia noted that it remains the only supplier offering hardware capable of running both an embedded Network Operating System and SONiC. Operators can configure the switches with Nokia’s SR Linux NOS or Community SONiC, providing a wider range of software options. Nokia emphasized that its development and support resources allow customers to adopt these solutions with confidence.
To support modern operating requirements, Nokia is introducing new agentic AI-enabled capabilities into its EDA automation platform. EDA AIOps combines natural language interaction with advanced reasoning tools to enable faster identification of issues, root cause analysis, and corrective actions. When integrated with the platform’s real-time telemetry, digital twin, dry-run, and quick rollback functions, operators can reduce network downtime significantly. A recent report by Bell Labs Consulting and Futurum, titled “Data center fabric reliability study,” found a 96% reduction in downtime using this approach.
Nokia said the 7220 IXR-H6 switches will be available in the first quarter of 2026, while EDA AIOps features are currently available for demonstration and will be ready for deployment by late 2025.
Tom Burke, Chief Revenue Officer at Nscale, said: “Our partnership with Nokia continues to deliver meaningful operating advantages amid the accelerating pace of AI innovation.” He added that the announcement reinforces confidence in meeting customer needs for advanced AI technology.
Alan Weckel, Founder and Technology Analyst at 650 Group, said: “The 1.6 TE interface speeds on Nokia’s new family of 7220 IXR switches hit a sweet spot in the market as agentic AI compels a change in data center networking requirements.”
Vach Kompella, Senior Vice President and General Manager of IP Networks at Nokia, said: “The astonishing growth in AI adoption has led to a dramatic overhaul in how data centers operate,” adding that the new switches and upgraded EDA platform represent major steps in advancing Nokia’s data center networking portfolio.
