Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR) has unveiled a new Cloud Metro portfolio of software and hardware platforms. The line emphasizes cloud-based artificial intelligence and automation, low power consumption, sustainability, and an extension of network lifecycles from 3-5 years to 7-12 years.
Use of the Cloud Metro line can reduce total cost of ownership by up to 71% percent, the company asserts. Zero Trust security is a built-in feature, as is active service assurance. Elements of the new line include:
- Juniper Paragon Automation as a Service, an AI-enabled, cloud-delivered automation portfolio for metro networks that Juniper Networks expects to make available during the first half of next year.
- Juniper AI-Enabled Device Onboarding-as-a-Service, the first Juniper Paragon Automation as a Service use case that is designed to reduce device onboarding times.
- Juniper Networks ACX7000 Family hardware platforms, a line that Juniper Networks asserts includes the industry's fastest router line card, highest 400GbE density and fabric capacity per slot (up to 21.6 Tbps with 54x400GbE ports) that is 800G ready. The family includes the ACX7100-32C, ACX7100-48L, and ACX7509, which are available now; the ACX7024, which is orderable now and slated to be available in this year’s third quarter; and the ACX7908 and ACX7348, which will be orderable in the first half of next year.
- Juniper Networks 400G ZR/ZR+ optics, orderable and available in the third quarter of this year, that comply with OpenZR+ and OIF specifications.
- Juniper Paragon Active Assurance test agents, embedded in JUNOS OS Evolved within all ACX7000 models, which provides advanced network performance and health information. The capabilities include emulation of 5G UE/gNB that enables service providers to simulate traffic for both the control plane and user plane, thus ensuring each 5G network slice meets expected SLAs.
- Zero Trust Security principles and the threat detection, analysis, and prevention fundamentals of Juniper's Connected Security portfolio. They are slated to be available in the first half of 2023.
"Our cloud-delivered Paragon Automation-as-a-Service promises immediate productivity increases for service providers. Instead of building complex, time-consuming ‘DIY’ automation solutions, they are empowered to focus on assuring service experiences for their customers,” stated Brendan Gibbs, senior vice president of automated WAN solutions, Juniper Networks. “And our extended ACX7000 Family delivers the most secure, assured, scalable, and intelligent Cloud Metro portfolio on the market. This is the answer to service provider needs for a sustainable future for their profits, their people, and the planet."
"Digital transformation is moving into its next phase which is all about transforming operational technology (OT) and driving the distributed delivery of new applications and use cases based on emerging technologies such as AI and AR. The metro edge is key to supporting the massive data, real-time performance and sustainability demands that this new era of OT transformation is bringing,” commented Caroline Chappell, research director, cloud practice, Analysys Mason via a Juniper Networks press release. “This important industry shift requires the re-imagining and re-engineering of the metro network and Juniper is showing leadership here in its Cloud Metro portfolio. Service providers that want to deliver reliable, secure and high-performing services at the metro edge with a sustainable business model should pay close attention."
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