- HPE adds distributed services switches and broadens its wired and wireless portfolio for next-gen workloads.
- The upgrade targets edge, campus, and data centre networks increasingly strained by AI-driven traffic.
What happened: Hewlett Packard Enterprise introduces new networking hardware to meet the rising performance needs of AI and high-performance computing
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has unveiled new networking infrastructure designed to support data-heavy artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. The company announced new Distributed Services Switches and an expanded portfolio of wired and wireless gear under its Aruba Networking range. These include updates to core and edge switches, access points, and integrated security features.
The new HPE Aruba Networking 9300 series switches use software-defined architecture to disaggregate network and security functions. According to HPE, the switches provide a 7x performance boost over existing campus core switches. The launch also includes improvements to HPE’s centralised AI-driven management platform, Aruba Central, and new Wi-Fi 7-ready access points aimed at reducing latency and congestion in high-density environments.
Why this is important
This expansion is a direct response to the growing network strain caused by the adoption of AI workloads in business operations. AI models generate enormous east-west traffic inside data centres, which legacy networks are often unequipped to handle efficiently. HPE’s approach decouples networking and security, enabling scalability and distributed processing — a model aligned with modern, distributed application architecture.
HPE’s strategy also reflects wider industry trends. Competitors like Cisco and Juniper Networks have similarly leaned into AI-optimised infrastructure. The distinction lies in HPE’s effort to bridge data centre capabilities with edge and campus environments, signalling a broader focus on unified network architecture across enterprise domains.
HPE’s executive vice president and GM of Intelligent Edge, Phil Mottram, said these innovations “provide customers with a modernised network that is secure, agile, and optimised for AI.” However, the success of this rollout will depend on enterprise willingness to overhaul legacy systems — a significant investment for many. Nonetheless, the move positions HPE strongly in a market demanding low-latency, high-throughput, and secure infrastructure for AI integration.
