Enabling Segment Routing at the AI Edge with UfiSpace's S9511-20CT
Three years after ChatGPT stunned the world, the pace of AI development has only accelerated. At the recent GTC 2025, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang unveiled a bold vision for the next chapter of AI. In this new era, AI will permeate every aspect of our lives -from enterprise applications and factories to robotics, vehicles, and homes. Huang predicted the rise of 10 billion AI agents working alongside humans and stated that 100% of the 30 million software developers in the future will be supported by AI assistants.
This massive surge in AI activity brings unprecedented demand for infrastructure. To meet these needs, NVIDIA introduced a 1.6Tbps CPO (Co-Packaged Optics) solution to handle the explosive growth in data traffic.
As we envision a future powered by AI, one thing becomes clear: the transport network must evolve. It must become highly scalable, efficient, and responsive to support diverse traffic patterns and the overwhelming volume of data generated by intelligent applications.
Revisiting MPLS
MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) has long been the backbone protocol of choice for core networks. By inserting a label between the Layer 2 and Layer 3 headers, MPLS reduces the time spent on IP lookups and enhances packet-forwarding performance. It supports various traffic types, including IP, Ethernet, and even ATM.
While MPLS has served operators well, especially in providing fast, reliable packet forwarding, it now faces challenges:
• Its control plane is complex, making scalability and manageability more difficult.
• The static nature of Label Switched Paths (LSPs) reduces network flexibility, especially under dynamic conditions such as congestion or link failures.
• MPLS lacks fine-grained application-aware traffic policies, which limits optimization in today’s highly diversified service environments.
Enter Segment Routing (SR)
Segment Routing is the next evolution in IP transport, offering simplified, source-based routing. Instead of relying on hop-by-hop signaling, SR enables the ingress router to define the full path a packet should take by encoding it as a list of “segments.” Transit nodes don’t need to make complex decisions—they simply forward the packet according to the next segment in the list.
Key advantages of Segment Routing include:
• No need for legacy protocols like LDP (Label Distribution Protocol) or RSVP-TE (Resource Reservation Protocol for Traffic Engineering).
• Uses standard IGP protocols (OSPF or IS-IS) to distribute routing information.
• Natively supports SDN integration, allowing a central controller to dynamically compute optimal paths based on real-time policies and network conditions.
• Enables more agile and programmable traffic engineering, essential for AI-era networks.
Figure 1. Concept of Segment Routing
UfiSpace's End-to-End Segment Routing Portfolio - Now Complete with S9511-20CT
UfiSpace has been a leader in building a full-stack Segment Routing ecosystem together with NOS partners—covering access, aggregation, and core layers. The portfolio includes:
• S9510 series (Qumran2a/2u)
• S9600 series (Qumran2c/2c+)
• S9700 series (Jericho2/2c+)
And now, with the introduction of the S9511-20CT, the final piece of the puzzle is in place—bringing Segment Routing capabilities all the way to the network edge.
Figure 2. Complete Portfolio Enables Segment Routing
The S9511-20CT is equipped with 4 x 1G RJ45/SFP combo ports, 8 x 10G SFP+ ports, and 8 x 25G SFP28 ports, delivering up to 100G of switching capacity. Its compact 250mm depth, along with fixed fans and power supplies, makes it ideal for space-constrained environments such as remote sites, distributed edge locations, and tight cabinet deployments.
By bringing Segment Routing capabilities to the access layer, the S9511-20CT enables true end-to-end SR implementation—from access to core. This empowers operators to deliver faster service rollouts, enhanced traffic optimization, and lower latency for edge applications.
Whether deployed for enterprise access, 5G mobile backhaul, or the metro edge, the S9511-20CT offers flexible, high-performance connectivity to meet a wide range of modern networking needs.
Contact us today to learn how the S9511-20CT and UfiSpace's full Segment Routing portfolio can help you build the infrastructure for the AI era.
About the Author
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Will Chang Will Chang, Technical Marketing Manager at UfiSpace, provides technical expertise and executes marketing campaigns on technical topics. |