The BIG network refresh

Between 2020 and 2022, organisations across every sector were forced into survival mode. Global supply‑chain disruption meant networking hardware was scarce, lead‑times stretched into months and procurement decisions were often driven by the question: what can we get right now?

Many organisations scrambled to buy whatever switches, routers, access points and firewalls were available, often outside of normal lifecycle planning, simply to keep their businesses online.

Fast‑forward to today, and the impact of that extraordinary period has created a predictable consequence. A significant proportion of that equipment is now reaching end of life or end of support at the same time, and a major industry‑wide hardware refresh wave is now on the horizon. In this ‘post-Covid bubble’, networking requirements have changed dramatically. The rise of hybrid work, SaaS adoption and increased security demands mean increased network complexity that requires a different approach.

A historic global network refresh

There’s broad agreement across the industry that 2026–2028 will see one of the largest coordinated networking refresh cycles in recent history. Cisco has described its newest switching portfolio as, “the beginning of a major multiyear refresh cycle opportunity,” with a multibillion‑dollar campus networking refresh already underway as organisations modernise networks for AI‑era demand. HPE is observing the same trend, reporting a global refresh cycle accelerating into 2026 as enterprises replace aging infrastructure to meet rising performance and resilience requirements.

External pressures are also adding urgency. AI data centres are forecast to consume around 70% of global high-end Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) production in 2026. For organisations planning network refreshes, this is likely to translate into rising costs and extended lead‑times through 2026–2027, making early planning essential.

What organisations are doing about it: refresh strategies emerging across industryEmpty heading

Across Softcat’s customer base and the wider market, several clear strategies are emerging:

•  Platform consolidation

Many organisations are reducing the number of networking platforms and vendors they operate to simplify operations, reduce tool sprawl and increase cost efficiency. Platform consolidation is often one of the fastest ways to reduce operational cost – up to 20% - while improving standardisation and policy consistency.

• Wireless‑first thinking

Wireless networks are now used for much more than just network connectivity. They’ve become a platform for user experience insights, network analytics and location-based services. This refresh cycle is an opportunity to innovate, rethinking how wireless technology supports the organisation, with many transitioning to Wi-Fi 6E/7 hardware to unlock higher performance, better insight and future potential.

• Diverse connectivity adoption

As increasing amounts of traffic are destined for the WAN, refreshes provide an opportunity to improve resilience. Introducing SD‑WAN‑driven strategies that combine traditional circuits with modern forms of connectivity such as 4G, 5G and satellite improves uptime, flexibility and business continuity.

• AI‑driven network operations

Agentic AI is now embedded into modern networking platforms, helping network operations teams troubleshoot faster, automate remediation and gain meaningful network insights. The refresh is a natural time to introduce AI-assisted operations and reduce the pressure on already stretched teams.

•  Sustainability‑aligned network lifecycles

With sustainability regulations such as SECR, SDR and public‑sector carbon reporting requirements, sustainability is increasingly embedded into network lifecycle planning. This includes choosing more energy efficient hardware, extending usable lifecycles where possible and redesigning networks to reduce power consumption without compromising performance.

•  Observability modernisation

Refresh cycles are an opportunity to rationalise monitoring and management tools. This reduces duplication, accelerates troubleshooting and builds more resilient networks.

Supporting organisations through their refresh journeys

A network refresh of this scale is a chance to reassess what’s really needed and avoid repeating the rushed decisions of the pandemic years, and the organisations best positioned for this refresh are the ones that start planning early. They’ll be able to secure inventory, optimise budgets and design modern architectures that will last another three to seven years.

As one of the UK’s leading networking and connectivity partners, we work with organisations to understand their current environment, constraints and business goals. From there, we combine strategic advisory and architecture design services to help them build a network that aligns with business priorities. Once defined, we support customers through vendor selection, procurement and implementation.

We also offer on-going support and managed network services to help organisations operate, optimise and evolve their networks as demands change.

The post‑Covid refresh cycle isn’t just a challenge, it’s an opportunity to modernise, simplify and future‑proof the network. Whether you’re planning a full technology refresh, consolidating platforms, modernising connectivity or aligning networking with sustainability and AI‑native operations, Softcat’s Networking & Connectivity team is here to help.

To find out more about our services, visit our Networking & Connectivity page, speak to your Softcat Account Manager or contact our Sales team via this form.