Market Insights
The data center networking equipment market was estimated at USD 24.3 billion in 2024 and is likely to grow at a CAGR of 14.9% during 2024-2032 to reach USD 74.0 billion in 2032.

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Market Dynamics
Introduction
The data center network equipment market holds a significant function in facilitating increased demand for storage of data, cloud computing, and digital services. The market includes a diversified set of devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, servers, cables, routers, load balancers, and application delivery controllers (ADCs) that make it possible for communication between the servers and the rest of the IT infrastructure in a data center. With the fast deployment of technologies such as AI, 5G, and edge computing, data centers are under growing pressure to provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity. Consequently, the market is moving towards sophisticated networking solutions, such as software-defined networking (SDN) and high-performance Ethernet. Market leaders like Cisco, Juniper Networks, Arista Networks, and Huawei are spearheading innovation to address these changing needs. The expansion of hyperscale data centers and cloud service providers further drives the pace of demand for scalable, efficient, and secure networking devices.
Market Drivers
The data center networking equipment market is experiencing rapid growth due to the explosion of data from cloud computing, IoT devices, and AI-driven workloads. These technologies require robust, scalable, and high-speed networking infrastructure to handle the vast amount of data being transmitted and processed. The increasing demand for real-time data access and seamless connectivity is pushing enterprises to upgrade their networks. Additionally, the rise in remote work and digital services has led organizations to invest in advanced networking solutions to ensure consistent performance, reliability, and secure data transmission across their operations. Another key set of drivers includes the expansion of hyperscale data centers and the growing use of virtualization and software-defined networking (SDN) technologies. These innovations help improve network agility and reduce operational costs, making them attractive to enterprises. Moreover, the rollout of 5G and the rise of edge computing require ultra-low latency and faster data routing, boosting the need for next-generation networking equipment. As companies prioritize digital transformation and stronger cybersecurity frameworks, the demand for more intelligent, adaptive, and secure data center networks continues to rise significantly.
Market Challenges
The market for data center networking equipment encounters various challenges, including large initial costs and running expenses can discourage small businesses from implementing sophisticated solutions. Evolving technologies demand frequent upgrades, adding complexity and maintenance costs. Moreover, the compatibility of old systems with new technologies creates integration challenges. Security issues regarding data breaches and network vulnerabilities add more complexity to deployment. Last but not least, supply chain disruptions and component shortages can affect equipment availability and deter data center growth plans.
Recent Market JVs and Acquisitions:
- AMD bought ZT Systems for $4.9 billion in 2025 to increase its AI and cloud infrastructure expertise for hyperscale data center customers.
- Nokia's $2.3 billion buyout of Infinera strengthened its optical networking presence, growing market share, and pushed high-speed data center connectivity.
- Cisco made a $28 billion acquisition of Splunk to enhance its AI-based security and observability capabilities, improving data center network performance and threat detection.
- AdaniConneX, a partnership between Adani and EdgeConneX, raised $213 billion in funding to construct sustainable data centers in India.
- Nokia collaborated with Cloudbear to implement Kubernetes-based data center networking solutions with high-performance routers that enhance scalability in European hosting environments.
Segment Analysis
Segmentations
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List of Sub-Segments
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Segments with High-Growth Opportunity
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Equipment-Type Analysis
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Switches, Servers, Routers & Gateways, Security Appliances, Load balancers, Cables, and Others.
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Security Appliances are expected to be the fastest-growing category for the Data Center Networking Equipment Market.
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Data Center-Type Analysis
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Enterprise, Colocation, Hyperscale, and Edge.
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Hyperscale data centers are expected to hold the largest share of the Data Center Networking Equipment Market in the coming years.
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Region Analysis
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North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World
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Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the fastest growth over the forecast period.
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By Equipment Type
“Security appliances are set to be the fastest-growing category of the data center networking equipment market, driven by rising cyber threats and increasing demand for robust data protection.”
Security Appliances are projected to be the most rapidly expanding category of the data center networking equipment market owing to growing cyberattacks, mounting data breaches, and more stringent regulatory demands. As data centers process more sensitive data, companies are focusing on secure infrastructure, such as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and unified threat management (UTM). The increasing use of cloud computing and remote workplaces further fuels the need for more sophisticated, scalable, and AI-based security products, making this segment a high-priority area of investment.
By Data Center Type
“Hyperscale data centers are poised to dominate the data center networking equipment market in the coming years, fueled by soaring data demand and cloud-driven expansion.”
Hyperscale data centers are set to dominate the data center networking equipment market because of their fast growth and increasing capacity requirements. In early 2024, hyperscale data centers totaled more than 1,000, with an estimated 120 to 130 new centers being added each year in the coming decade. This expansion is mainly prompted by growing AI technology adoption, which requires more capable networking infrastructures. Therefore, hyperscale data centers will be responsible for a large share of the market's demand for high-end networking gear.
Switches by Architecture Type
“The spine-leaf 2-tier architecture is set to lead the data center networking equipment market, owing to its superior scalability, efficiency, and low-latency performance.”
The spine-leaf two-tier design is fast becoming the top data center networking choice due to its high scalability, low latency, and operational efficiency. Unlike the traditional three-tier design, this design has only two layers: spine and leaf switches. Each leaf switch is connected to all spine switches, providing consistent and predictable latency across the network. This design mitigates bottlenecks and enhances redundancy through the provision of multiple paths for data between nodes. Its ability to effectively deal with high levels of east-west traffic, common in data centers today, also spurs its adoption. Generally, the spine-leaf architecture's advantages in traffic load handling, delay reduction, and scalable expansion make it the leading paradigm for future data center networking infrastructure.
By Server Type
“Blade servers are projected to not only capture the largest market share but also emerge as the fastest-growing category of the data center networking equipment market, driven by their space efficiency and high-performance capabilities.”
Blade servers are expected to dominate the data center networking equipment market due to their compact design, high processing power, and energy efficiency. Notably, blade servers occupy up to eight times less space than traditional rack-mounted servers, making them ideal for high-density computing environments. Their modular structure allows for easy scalability and centralized management, streamlining IT operations and reducing downtime. Blade servers are especially effective for virtualization and cloud computing, where efficient workload consolidation is essential. As data centers increasingly adopt AI and machine learning technologies, the demand for powerful, scalable infrastructure continues to rise, making it necessary that blade servers are well-equipped to meet. These benefits position blade servers as both a leading and fastest-growing segment in the data center networking equipment market.
Regional Insights
“Asia-Pacific is poised to be the fastest-growing region in the data center networking equipment market, fueled by rapid digital transformation and surging demand for advanced IT infrastructure.”
The Asia-Pacific market is set to dominate the data center networking equipment market growth on account of some of the important drivers. Quick digitalization in nations such as China, India, and Japan has hugely spurred the demand for secure data infrastructure. The ubiquitous usage of cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies further accentuates this requirement. Moreover, the rollout of 5G networks improves connectivity, which necessitates sophisticated networking solutions. Regional governments are strongly backing this growth with supportive policies and investments in digital infrastructure. In addition, the emergence of data localization legislations in nations like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam requires data to be stored locally, necessitating the setup of additional data centers. These combined factors place Asia-Pacific as the fastest-growing data center networking equipment market.

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Key players
The market is consolidated, with around 50 players. Most of the major players compete in some of the governing factors, including price, product offerings, regional presence, etc. The following are the key players in the data center networking equipment market. Some of the major players provide a complete range of products,
Here is the list of the Top Players (Based on Dominance)
- CISCO Systems
- Arista Networks Inc.
- Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd
- H3C Technologies Co., Ltd
- Juniper Networks Inc.
- Dell Technologies
- Mellanox Technologies (NVIDIA)
- Lenovo
- HP Enterprise
- ODM Direct
Note: The above list does not necessarily include all the top players in the market.
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Report Features
This report provides market intelligence most comprehensively. The report structure has been kept so that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights into market dynamics and will enable strategic decision-making for existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:
- Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.
- Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter’s five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.
- Market trend and forecast analysis.
- Market segment trend and forecast.
- Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, Service portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.
- COVID-19 impact and its recovery curve.
- Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.
- Emerging trends.
- Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.
- Key success factors.
The data center networking equipment market is segmented into the following categories:
Data Center Networking Equipment Market, by Equipment Type
- Switches
- (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
- (Architecture Type Analysis: Traditional 3 Tier Architecture and Spine-Leaf 2 Tier Architecture)
- Servers
- (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
- (Server Type Analysis: Blade Servers, Rack-Mounted Servers, and Tower Servers)
- Routers & Gateways (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
- Security Appliances (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
- Load balancers (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
- Cables (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
- Others (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
Data Center Networking Equipment Market, by Data Center Type
- Enterprise (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World)
- Colocation (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
- Hyperscale (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
- Edge (Regional Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and The Rest of the World)
Data Center Networking Equipment Market by Region
- North America (Country Analysis: The USA, Canada, and Mexico)
- Europe (Country Analysis: Germany, France, The UK, and the Rest of Europe)
- Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China, Japan, India, and the Rest of Asia-Pacific)
- Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil, Africa, and Others)
Research Methodology
- This strategic assessment report from Stratview Research provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today’s data center networking equipment market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period.
- The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner in order to provide a panoramic view of the market.
- The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants and investors in identifying the low-hanging fruit available in the market and formulating growth strategies to expedite their growth process.
- This report offers high-quality insights and is the outcome of a detailed research methodology comprising extensive secondary research, rigorous primary interviews with industry stakeholders, and validation and triangulation with Stratview Research’s internal database and statistical tools.
- More than 1,000 authenticated secondary sources, such as company annual reports, fact books, press releases, journals, investor presentations, white papers, patents, and articles, have been leveraged to gather the data.
- We conducted more than 15 detailed primary interviews with market players across the value chain in all four regions and industry experts to obtain both qualitative and quantitative insights.
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Company Profiling
- Detailed profiling of additional market players (up to three players)
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Competitive Benchmarking
- Benchmarking of key players on the following parameters: Product portfolio, geographical reach, regional presence, and strategic alliances
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