Kyndryl and Nokia Partner on Data Centre Network Services

Enterprise data centres face mounting pressure to modernise their infrastructure as AI workloads increase and cyber threats evolve. The shift towards AI-driven applications has created demand for networks that can handle complex computational tasks while maintaining security standards.

Against this backdrop, Kyndryl, a provider of enterprise IT infrastructure services, and telecommunications equipment manufacturer Nokia have expanded their partnership to address growing demand for data centre networking solutions.

The move comes as organisations seek to upgrade legacy systems to accommodate the computational requirements of emerging technologies. Data centre operators must balance the need for increased network capacity with cybersecurity concerns and regulatory compliance.

The collaboration aims to support enterprises managing private data centres that need to modernise their infrastructure to handle workloads from AI – computer systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence.

Enterprise demand drives partnership expansion

The partnership combines Kyndryl’s experience in designing hybrid cloud environments – computing infrastructure that uses both private and public cloud services – with Nokia’s data centre networking equipment. Market forecasts indicate capital investment in data centre networks will increase as demand for cloud networking grows.

Paul Savill, Global Network and Edge Computing Practice Leader at Kyndryl, says: “As enterprises face increasing workloads due to hybrid IT environments, AI adoption and high-performance computing, the demand for highly reliable, low-latency and secure connectivity has never been greater.”

The rising volume of data storage requirements has created pressure for data centre operators to implement network solutions that can scale while maintaining security standards.

Kyndryl Bridge and Nokia automation systems merge

The collaboration centres on integrating Nokia’s Event-Driven Automation technology – a platform that uses machine learning to automate data centre networks – with Kyndryl Bridge, an AI platform that monitors technology infrastructure.

This integration aims to help enterprises comply with new regulations, including the European Union’s Digital Operational Resilience Act, which sets requirements for financial firms’ IT systems.

Federico Guillén, President of Network Infrastructure at Nokia, says: “As businesses use AI to transform themselves, they need fast, secure, and easy-to-use data centre networks. That's what Nokia and Kyndryl are offering together.”

Technical solutions target enterprise demands

The partnership includes Nokia's data centre fabric – a network architecture that connects servers and storage – and quantum-safe networking, which protects against potential threats from quantum computers.

Kyndryl will deploy Nokia’s IP routing products in its data centre network. The infrastructure services provider's existing portfolio includes software-defined wide area networking – technology that simplifies network management across multiple locations – and Secure Access Service Edge, which combines network security functions with wide area networking capabilities.

Enterprise resilience strengthens through partnership

The combined expertise of both firms aims to address the needs of enterprises managing their own data centres while supporting evolving workloads driven by machine learning – systems that improve through experience – and augmented reality.

Kyndryl’s experience in network management and consulting services, combined with Nokia's background in deploying networks for service providers and web-scale companies, positions the partnership to meet increasing demands for high-performance data centre operations.

The partnership extends to Nokia’s multi-layer security solutions, which incorporate both IP and optical network protection, alongside data centre interconnect services secured by quantum-safe networking technology.

Paul Savill says: “Our expanded portfolio of solutions with Nokia underscores the critical role that robust data centre network infrastructure plays in driving IT modernisation. From leveraging AI-driven network automation to extending capabilities at the edge, our comprehensive, end-to-end network services empower enterprises to mitigate future risks, meet regulatory requirements and accelerate their technology transformation journey.”

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