The Nortel networking line

Nortel’s networking products were as widely deployed in Saudi Arabia as their PBX line. The Ethernet Routing Switch (ERS) family — 1600, 2500, 4500, 5500, 8000, 8300, 8600, 8800 — provided the campus and data-centre switching that connected Nortel PBXs to the rest of the network. The Baystack family (350, 380, 450, 460, 470, 5000) was the SMB and edge counterpart. The Passport multiprotocol routers handled WAN. The Centillion line (older) and various Secure Router variants completed the portfolio.

Avaya inherited Nortel’s networking line in 2009. Some products continued under Avaya branding; others were progressively retired. Today, Saudi enterprises still running Nortel networking gear face the same upgrade question as the PBX side: when to migrate, and to which platform?

Avaya ERS continuity

Avaya took the Nortel networking line and repositioned much of it under Avaya branding. The ERS 4500 became the Avaya ERS 4500. The 5500 became the ERS 5500-T. Avaya VSP (Virtual Services Platform) inherited some 8000-series concepts. Avaya Networking products eventually transferred to Extreme Networks in 2017 — so the lineage runs Nortel → Avaya → Extreme.

Practical implication: your Nortel ERS hardware is now legacy under Extreme Networks ownership. Extreme continues some support windows but no longer markets these products as new. Replacement options include Extreme’s modern lines (which inherit some of the Nortel feature DNA) or migration to other vendors.

Modern alternatives — Cisco

Cisco is the volume leader in enterprise networking globally. Modern equivalents to Nortel:

• Cisco Catalyst 9300 ≈ Nortel ERS 4500/5500 (campus access/distribution)
• Cisco Catalyst 9500 ≈ Nortel ERS 8000 series (core switching)
• Cisco Meraki MS series — cloud-managed alternative for organisations valuing simplicity
• Cisco Nexus for data-centre switching (different positioning than Nortel ERS at the time)

Cisco’s strength is the integrated stack: switches, wireless, security, SD-WAN all from one vendor with one management plane (DNA Center). Cisco Smart Licensing complexity and pricing are real considerations.

Modern alternatives — Aruba (HPE)

Aruba (Hewlett Packard Enterprise) is the volume challenger to Cisco. Aruba CX switches are technically excellent and price-competitive:

• Aruba CX 6200 ≈ Nortel ERS 4500/5500 (campus access)
• Aruba CX 6300 for distribution
• Aruba CX 8400 for core
• Aruba ClearPass for network access control

Aruba’s strength is high-density Wi-Fi (Aruba’s wireless heritage is decade-leading), cloud-managed via Aruba Central, and competitive pricing for full-stack deployments.

Modern alternatives — Cisco Meraki

Cisco Meraki is the cloud-managed Cisco line — same Cisco hardware, but managed entirely from a cloud dashboard. Strong for organisations with limited on-site IT resources or multi-site estates.

• Meraki MS series for switches
• Meraki MR series for wireless
• Meraki MX series for SD-WAN and security

Meraki’s licensing is subscription-based — predictable monthly cost in exchange for ongoing licensing dependency. Strong for SMBs and mid-market; can be expensive at large enterprise scale.

Modern alternatives — Fortinet

Fortinet is increasingly a player in switching as a complement to their security strength:

• Fortinet FortiSwitch series — managed alongside FortiGate firewalls
• Strong fit for organisations standardising on Fortinet for security, where switches consolidate vendor management

Migration approach: lift-and-shift vs design-from-scratch

Two approaches to Nortel switch replacement:

Lift-and-shift — replace each old switch with a new equivalent, preserve the existing network design, VLANs, IP addressing. Lower risk, faster project. Misses the opportunity to modernise the underlying network design.

Design-from-scratch — re-architect the network alongside the switch refresh. Implement modern segmentation (Zero Trust principles), update VLAN structure, redesign wireless coverage, plan SD-WAN if not yet deployed. Higher risk and longer project, but produces a network fit for 2026-2030.

The right choice depends on the age and quality of your current network design. Networks designed pre-2015 typically benefit from re-architecture; post-2015 designs often warrant lift-and-shift.

PoE++ / Wi-Fi 6E implications

Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 access points draw significantly more power than older APs (PoE++ at 60-90W per port versus 15-30W for older standards). High-density camera deployments similarly need PoE++ headroom. Modern switches must specify PoE++ capability per port — verify this in any replacement specification.

Cable plant also matters. Cat6 may be marginal for PoE++ over long runs; Cat6A is the new baseline.

SD-WAN / SDN considerations

If the network refresh is happening alongside a multi-site WAN refresh, SD-WAN should be on the table. Cisco Viptela, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, Aruba EdgeConnect, Versa, VMware VeloCloud — all are mature in 2026. For multi-site KSA enterprises, SD-WAN typically delivers significant cost savings over MPLS while improving application-aware routing.

Phased rollout strategy for multi-floor / multi-building estates

Phased switch replacement typically by floor or building. Standard sequence:

1. Pilot floor — replace switches on one floor, verify operations, gather lessons
2. Department-by-department or floor-by-floor rollout — replace switches in waves over weekends
3. Core switching last — core switches replaced after access/distribution layers, since core changes are highest-risk

Total project for 100-switch estate: 2-4 months including design, procurement, and phased rollout.

Cost benchmarks

Indicative ranges for KSA enterprise switch refresh (per switch, mid-tier 48-port models with PoE++):

• Cisco Catalyst 9300: SAR 8,000-15,000
• Aruba CX 6200: SAR 6,000-11,000
• Meraki MS series (with first-year license): SAR 7,000-13,000
• Fortinet FortiSwitch: SAR 5,000-10,000

A 100-switch refresh project typically lands in the SAR 800K-1.5M range including hardware, installation, and design.

Get help with switch refresh

For a network refresh assessment alongside your broader Nortel modernisation, book a discovery conversation. We deliver a vendor-neutral platform recommendation, network design review, and phased rollout plan. Pair with networking services, structured cabling, and cyber security services for integrated delivery.