Equinix turns to Nokia for new IP/MPLS network that will provision 5G services and applications

Nokia has landed a customer win with Equinix to build the data center and colocation giant a new IP/MPLS network for 5G services and applications.

While Equinix currently runs its services on multiple networks from multiple vendors it will be able to consolidate onto a single webscale infrastructure with the new network. Equinix provides metro, national and international interconnectivity and cloud services to its global customers across its 200 data centers.

With carriers ramping up their 5G deployments, there's a need to support 5G service capabilities, such as low latency, high capacity and power, and to connect all of the devices onto a single automated network.

In order help Equinix lay the groundwork for its customers to deploy 5G services and applications, Equinix is replacing its older multi-vendor networks with a single global IP/MPLS network from Nokia, powered by its FP4 routing silicon and Network Services Platform (NSP). Once the new network is completed, Equinix will be able to deliver all of its interconnection services worldwide, saving its customers money, streamlining their operations and easing their 5G transformations.

Using the FPE chipset with Nokia’s Service Router Operating System (SR OS) software, will enable Equinix to offer additional capabilities driven by routing technologies such as Ethernet VPNs (EVPNs) and segment routing (SR). Nokia and Equinix didn't say when the network would be completed.

With a presence in 24 countries across five continents, Equinix connects its hyperscale, communication service provider and enterprise customers with their end users in 52 markets worldwide.

 "We see tremendous opportunity in providing our customers with 5G services, but this poses special demands for our network, from ultra-low latency to ultra broadband performance, all with business- and mission-critical reliability," said Equinix's Muhammad Durrani, director of IP architecture, in a statement. "Nokia’s end-to-end router portfolio will provide us with the highly dynamic and programmable network fabric we need, and we are pleased to have the support of the Nokia team every step of the way.”

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