New Juniper routers converge the access net

Network World - Juniper Networks this week has unveiled access routers designed to provide an on-ramp to the service provider network from residential, business and mobile networks.

Juniper's ACX series Universal Access routers are intended to provide a single platform supporting multiple access points into the service provider network. Typically, residential, business and mobile networks rely on separate access points into the carrier network.

Converging all these wired and wireless access points onto a single router allows service providers to lower their cost of operating, maintaining and upgrading their access network infrastructure, while providing consistent service, Juniper says.

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The routers feature 60Gbps of throughput and support 10Gbps links, Juniper says. This kind of performance is meant to address the more than 1 billion active mobile broadband subscribers worldwide that are using applications like cloud computing and video telephony.

The ACX series also supports integrated network timing to improve network utilization and support more calls, fewer dropped calls and transport more data with fewer retransmissions. And they support MPLS for service assurance, QoS, SLAs and the like.

The routers come in five configurations for mobile 2G/3G and LTE backhaul, business Ethernet and residential services. Four are 1RU and the fifth is a modular unit. All support Juniper's Junos operating system and Junos Space for network management and monitoring, and 65 watt Power over Ethernet.

The ACX series will compete with Cisco's MWR series of mobile backhaul routers, as well as Alcatel-Lucent's 7705 line. Juniper is taking orders on the new routers in the second quarter.

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