The world’s networks are entering rush hour. Data volumes are increasing, driven by AI, cloud computing, streaming, and real-time analytics and legacy 100G networks are nearing capacity. To keep up, enterprises and data centres are embarking on a journey toward 400G today, 800G tomorrow and ultimately 1.6T.

The Challenge? The primary challenge in the upgrade journey lies in managing the increases in power consumption, heat density and signal complexity within existing infrastructure constraints.

Dell Technologies plays a critical role in enabling and validating the optical ecosystem that underpins high-performance networks. Dell PowerSwitch platforms are rigorously tested and validated with a broad range of industry-leading optics, cables and NICs, giving customers confidence that higher-speed deployments will perform as designed.

At Ampito, we’re committed to delivering enterprise-grade managed services built on best-in-class components which is why we’ve partnered with Dell Technologies for our network architecture needs.

From Access to AI: Dell’s Networking Portfolio

Dell Technologies provides the switching platforms, operating systems and automation frameworks that allow optical technologies to scale safely and efficiently.

Mapping the Upgrade Journey: 100G → 400G → 800G → 1.6T

Upgrading network capacity is rarely straightforward. Each speed tier introduces new decisions around form factor, fibre type, reach, power budget and interoperability.

Dell Technologies supports this evolution with a clearly defined portfolio aligned to real-world use cases, from access and storage fabrics to AI-scale back-end connectivity.

Front-End Fabric for Modern Data Centres: Cluster, Storage and Access Networks

For front-end fabrics supporting compute clusters, storage and access layers, Dell PowerSwitch platforms provide flexibility across multiple speed tiers:

• 400G / 100G dense deployments: Z9664F-ON and Z9432F-ON, ideal for high-density data centre environments
• 100G standard deployments: S5448F-ON and S5232F-ON, balancing performance and efficiency
• 25G standard deployments: S5296F-ON and S5248F-ON for scalable server access
• 1G out-of-band management: N3248TE-ON for resilient operational control

This tiered approach allows organisations to modernise incrementally, aligning network investment with workload growth.

Back-End Fabrics for AI and GPU Connectivity: GPU-to-GPU Connectivity for AI

AI and high-performance computing introduce a very different set of networking demands. Back-end fabrics must deliver ultra-low latency, predictable performance and lossless Ethernet at scale. Dell addresses this with platforms such as the Z9664F-ON, powered by Broadcom Tomahawk4, delivering 64 x 400G ports for high-throughput GPU connectivity. Depending on architecture, this enables:

• Single-switch topologies supporting up to 64 or 128 GPUs
• Fabric-based architectures scaling from 2,048 GPUs up to 8,192 GPUs

This provides a robust Ethernet-based alternative for AI fabrics, supporting open standards and long-term flexibility.

Network Operating System: Dell Enterprise SONiC

At the software layer, Dell Enterprise SONiC (Release 4.2) delivers the intelligence required to operate high-speed fabrics at scale. Key capabilities include:

• RoCEv2 support with lossless Ethernet using PFC, ETS and ECN
• Cut-through switching for ultra-low latency
• Enhanced hashing for optimal traffic distribution
• Open APIs and telemetry for automation and integration

This open, software-driven approach aligns networking with modern DevOps and cloud operating models.

Monitoring and Orchestration

Managing high-speed, multi-tier fabrics requires deep visibility and automation. Dell simplifies operations through:

• SmartFabric Manager, enabling intent-driven fabric deployment and lifecycle management
• BeyondEdge Fabric Orchestration, extending control across distributed and edge environments

Together, these tools reduce operational complexity and minimise configuration errors helping organisations to deploy and scale AI-ready, high-performance networks.

Engineering Smoother Network Upgrades

The right hardware is only half the equation. Successful network transformation depends on design expertise, timing, and ongoing operational support. This is where Ampito delivers value as a Managed Service Provider.

We ensure every upgrade runs on schedule and on budget through:

• Vendor-neutral interoperability and broad network expertise i.e, Cisco, Arista, ensuring optical components integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure
• Performance-driven design, leveraging Dell PowerSwitch platforms and validated optics to optimise throughput and latency
• Sustainability and cost-efficiency, extending hardware lifespan and avoiding unnecessary refresh cycles
• End-to-end network design and consultation, from architecture and deployment to proactive monitoring and lifecycle management

Our co-managed approach reduces risk while accelerating time-to-value.

The Future of Fibre: 1.6T and Beyond

With 1.6T optics already on the horizon, networks must prepare for denser, faster and more energy-intensive environments. Dell Technologies continues to invest in open, standards-based networking and next-generation optical innovation, ensuring customers are not locked into proprietary paths.

Whether supporting AI fabrics, connecting data centres, or scaling hybrid cloud environments, Ampito and Dell deliver networks that are built to evolve.

Through our partnership, Ampito provides the design, deployment and managed services expertise, while Dell delivers the validated switching and optical foundation required to scale.

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