Nokia Joins Linx as Technical Partner for London Network Refresh

Why It Matters

The refresh secures critical redundancy for UK digital infrastructure while enabling scalable bandwidth for emerging AI workloads, strengthening Linx’s competitive edge in the interconnection market.

Key Takeaways

• LON2 refresh adds Nokia's 400GE‑800GE capability.
• Ensures network diversity alongside LON1 infrastructure.
• Supports AI‑driven traffic with future‑ready platform.
• Provides cost‑effective interconnection for UK and Europe.

Pulse Analysis

Linx’s decision to overhaul its LON2 fabric underscores the exchange’s commitment to a disaggregated, EVPN‑based architecture that has differentiated it since the 2018 rollout. By maintaining a separate hardware and software stack from the primary LON1 network, Linx guarantees that members can mirror services across two fully independent LANs, eliminating single points of failure and enhancing overall resilience. This dual‑LAN strategy has become a hallmark of the UK’s largest internet exchange, attracting carriers, content providers, and enterprises seeking reliable peering points.

Partnering with Nokia brings a next‑generation platform capable of scaling from 10 GbE up to 800 GbE, a critical capability as AI models generate unprecedented traffic volumes. Nokia’s hardware supports advanced EVPN features, allowing Linx to deliver granular traffic engineering and seamless migration paths for members upgrading to higher‑speed ports. The refresh also aligns with broader industry trends where operators prioritize flexible, software‑defined infrastructure that can adapt to evolving workload patterns without costly overhauls. By future‑proofing LON2, Linx positions itself to accommodate the surge in data‑intensive services such as generative AI, edge computing, and high‑frequency trading.

The upgrade has ripple effects across the European interconnection landscape. A more robust LON2 enhances the UK’s role as a digital hub, attracting new entrants and encouraging existing members to expand their presence. Moreover, Linx’s global collaboration with Nokia—from the US‑based Linx NoVA to sites in Kenya and Ghana—signals a coordinated effort to standardize high‑performance interconnection services worldwide. For investors and industry observers, the refresh signals confidence in sustained demand for peering capacity and highlights the strategic importance of diversified, high‑speed fabric in supporting the next wave of internet growth.