The Evolution of Open Networking: EPS Global's Foundational Role

The world of network infrastructure is in the midst of a revolutionary shift, moving away from closed, proprietary systems towards open, disaggregated models. This journey, which has unfolded over more than a decade, can be understood in three distinct phases: Emergence, Convergence, and now, "Crossing the Chasm" into mainstream enterprise adoption. From the very beginning, EPS Global has been a pivotal player, helping to shape and accelerate this transformation. 

Phase 1: The Emergence of a New Idea 

The open networking movement began in the early 2010s with the founding of the Open Compute Project (OCP) by Facebook. This initiative introduced open switch designs, signalling the intent of hyperscalers to break free from traditional, bundled networking solutions. This era also saw the rise of innovative software startups like Pica8, Cumulus Networks, and Big Switch Networks, which were crucial in building out the new ecosystem. 

During this foundational period, EPS Global was already at the heart of the action. We built starter kits for Big Switch Networks and soon after we provided the hardware and logistics expertise that allowed Cumulus to launch Cumulus Express, a fully integrated solution built by us in Indianapolis and Dublin. By leveraging deep expertise in hardware, EPS Global played a key role in making the promise of disaggregation a reality for early adopters. 

Phase 2: Convergence and the Rise of SONiC 

The mid-2010s marked a period of convergence. The most significant event was Microsoft's 2016 contribution of SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) to the OCP. This community-led Network Operating System (NOS) quickly gained momentum, becoming the primary driving force for the growth of disaggregated networking. As SONiC became the de facto standard, many of the early independent software vendors were acquired by larger OEMs. 

Throughout this phase, EPS Global continued to be a leader. Its strong partnerships with hardware giants like Edgecore Networks, UfiSpace, Coherent, and Amphenol, combined with its advanced logistics and technical capabilities, enabled the delivery of fully integrated appliances. The company developed and sold solutions based on Pica8 and Pluribus Networks and forged a strategic, ongoing partnership with IP Infusion, which remains a cornerstone of its open networking offerings today. 

In 2017, EPS Global launched a new conference in Europe, Datacenter Transformation, bringing together Open Networking industry leaders in one room to evangelize the technology and to build a community. The event centered on softwaredefined data center (SDDC), Open Compute, and open networking technologies. Attendees came from across Europe, including Germany, the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, and Belgium, while speakers travelled in from Taiwan, California, Cambridge, and London. 

The conference featured technical talks, realworld deployment insights, and exhibits from companies such as Coherent, Edgecore Networks, Big Switch Networks, IP Infusion, Cumulus Networks, Penguin Computing, Solarflare, and the OCP Foundation.

 Many of the featured presenters were also visible at the OCP Summit, reinforcing the strong synergy between this event and broader open networking industry discourse. The conference, repeated in Frankfurt in subsequent years, expanded to Warsaw and had planned a Mumbai edition in 2020 that ultimately was cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic. 

During this time EPS Global pivoted from physical events to the Open Networking Webinar Series featuring Coherent, Edgecore, UfiSpace, IP Infusion, SONiC, the OCP, the Telecom Infra Project, Pluribus Networks, Exaware, and Apstra amongst others. Around the same time, Unboxing Open Networking was also unveiled, to give our audience a look under the hood of the hardware that drives disaggregated networking and has amassed over 54.5K views on YouTube, and more on LinkedIn. 

As consumption habits changed and webinar fatigue set in around 2022, The Critical Lowdown debuted - the flagship podcast series from EPS Global. It's a technology-focused podcast by EPS Global, offering expert-led discussions on open networking. Each episode is a short-format (typically 10–30 minutes) conversation covering emerging technologies, network disaggregation, Data Center networking so people can over a coffee or a lunch break! It's ideal for professionals in data centers, network infrastructure design & management and telecommunications seeking actionable insights on evolving technology landscapes, regulatory shifts, and practical deployment strategies. 

Phase 3: Crossing the Chasm to the Enterprise 

We are now in the third and most exciting phase, where disaggregated networking is becoming a safe and viable choice for enterprises. This transition was signalled by the 2022 transfer of SONiC to the Linux Foundation, which provided a more robust and "safer" governance structure for enterprise customers. 

Several other factors are making open networking ready for widespread adoption: 

• Validated Designs: The OCP has begun to offer validated hardware and reference designs, lowering the barrier to entry. 

• Robust Hardware and Support: The rise of OEM-like hardware vendors such as Celestica provides the robust service and support packages that enterprises expect. 

• A Rich Automation Ecosystem: A growing ecosystem of both open-source tools (Ansible, NetBox) and commercial vendors (Aviz Networks, BE Networks) is making network automation and orchestration more accessible. 

EPS Global shares the excitement for this third wave and is perfectly positioned to lead the charge. The company continues to foster innovation and prioritises strategic partnerships with next-generation players like Aviz Networks, BE Networks, Hedgehog, and Celestica ensuring that EPS Global remains at the forefront, fully equipped to continue driving the enterprise adoption of open, disaggregated networking solutions for years to come.