AI Networks Drive SONiC Boom
Network World, Wednesday, October 21st, 2026
Analysts see SONiC, the open-source network OS, moving from hyperscalers into enterprise and AI scale-out networks.
Network World looks at why SONiC, the open-source network operating system Microsoft created for white-box switches, is gaining enterprise adoption.
650 Group forecasts SONiC-based data center switching revenue above $5 billion in 2026, Dell'Oro expects SONiC switch sales in AI scale-out networks to grow more than 50% a year through 2030, and Gartner estimates 2,500 organizations run it in production.
A key driver is that Arista, Cisco, Dell and Nvidia now support SONiC on their own hardware.
Gartner calls it a viable option for enterprises seeking flexibility, cost control and less vendor lock-in in leaf-spine and AI fabrics.