Juniper Networks has announced that it is broadening its mobile solutions portfolio with the addition of an integrated set of new hardware systems and software features for mobile backhaul. Providing flexible support for multi-generation radio and multi-transport technologies, Juniper's new Mobile Backhaul Solution is said to enable operators to scale their backhaul network for innovative service deployments, while reducing operational expenses.
With the growth in high-bandwidth data services requiring upgrades to mobile backhaul networks, operators today are increasingly challenged with legacy backhaul architectures that are expensive, inflexible, inefficient and limited in scale. Juniper Networks is addressing these challenges with the introduction of the new BX 7000 Multi-Access Gateway for the cell site and new M-series Circuit Emulation Physical Interface Cards (PICs) for the aggregation site. The solution introduces comprehensive network management capabilities through new enhancements to the JUNOScope framework, as well as the capability for zero-touch deployments.
According to the Infonetics Research Mobile Backhaul Equipment Worldwide Market Size and Forecast Report published in September 2007, mobile operators are investing in packet backhaul to reduce the cost per bit, as well as scaling the backhaul bottleneck, to support the rapid uptake of the mobile data services. As a result, Infonetics reports that operators and mobile backhaul transport providers are investing in backhaul equipment, which resulted in $4.5 billion in expenditures in 2007, and projects the market to grow to $8.2 billion in 2010, with IP/MPLS/Ethernet packet equipment growing fastest.
"Since 2006 mobile operators worldwide have seen exponential growth in data traffic, which will continue to require operators to upgrade their access networks to support applications that demand lower latencies and higher throughputs," said Dr. Hossein Moiin, chief editor of the NGMN Alliance's white paper on next-generation technologies and leader of the Ecosystem Working Group. "However, as radio networks improve and demand increases, the backhaul network will increasingly become a bottleneck. We are pleased to see industry leaders, such as Juniper Networks, playing a key role in defining mobile backhaul solutions that are flexible, scalable, and efficient and offer investment protection for a smooth migration to all IP next-generation mobile networks."
The BX 7000 Multi-Access Gateway is a new system purpose built for the mobile market that extends Juniper Networks industry-leading expertise in both IP/MPLS and multi-service transport of TDM and ATM circuits to the cell site. Many existing mobile backhaul networks use a mix of disparate legacy transport technologies, such as TDM and ATM, which add complexity to the network and are difficult to scale. The BX 7000 addresses these problems by reliably transporting a broad range of service types over a simple and cost-effective IP/MPLS connection using MPLS pseudowires.
The BX 7000 will feature a unique timing expansion module that protects network investments and provides a wide range of timing synchronisation options by allowing customers to replace clocking modules as technologies and network requirements evolve. Additionally, the BX 7000 provides an expansion slot that will offer maximum flexibility for backhaul network uplinks. By deploying the Juniper BX 7000, mobile operators can retain their existing investments in 2G and 3G cell sites, while realising the operational benefits of IP/MPLS-based transport. Services can be migrated gradually, for example, by offloading the high-growth data transport as a first step. This unique mobile backhaul solution shifts the paradigm of radio access networks from complex and costly legacy networks to cost-effective, converged IP/MPLS networks that can help to expand and accelerate service model innovation and differentiation.
Juniper is also introducing new Circuit Emulation PICs for the M-series routers. Mobile operators can deploy the proven M-series with the new Circuit Emulation PICs as highly efficient and scalable aggregation site gateways, which, when combined with the BX 7000, will enable providers to create an end-to-end mobile backhaul network that fully leverages the cost-effectiveness and simplicity of a converged IP/MPLS network.
"With Juniper's new Mobile Backhaul Solution with advanced management tools that extend the benefits of IP/MPLS to the cell site, we believe that mobile operators can reduce annual OpEx by as much as 84 percent moving from traditional leased lines to Ethernet backhaul," said Ray Mota, chief analyst at Synergy Research Group.
To help reduce operating expenses, Juniper Networks is also delivering a suite of software features that simplify the deployment, provisioning and management of mobile backhaul networks. The BX 7000 includes a zero-touch deployment capability, allowing for automatic configuration of the system upon physical installation. In addition, both the BX 7000 Multi-Access Gateway and the M-series Aggregation Site Gateway are manageable via the JUNOScope network management framework. JUNOScope has been enhanced to support provisioning; monitoring and diagnostics; remote software upgrades; configuration management; and inventory management across all aspects of Juniper's mobile backhaul solution.
Through its J-Partner Solutions Alliance Program, Juniper also enables customers to work with OSS provider partners who can add value in operating a mobile backhaul network, such as fault and performance management.
"The implementation of the IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus software with the Juniper's Mobile Backhaul Solution will enable more comprehensive event collection, correlation and consolidation," said John Krachenfels, program director of event and network management solutions, Tivoli Software, IBM. "Applying automated problem diagnosis, notification and resolution help mobile operations teams improve performance, reduce operating costs and enable the business to operate more efficiently and competitively."
"Our new Mobile Backhaul Solution built on proven IP/MPLS technology helps our customers advance the economics of the mobile backhaul in order to realise increased operational efficiency and achieve their business objectives," said Kim Perdikou, executive vice president and general manager, Infrastructure Products Group, Juniper Networks. "With eleven of the twelve largest mobile operators in the world having deployed Juniper high-performance network infrastructure solutions, our customers are able to expand and accelerate service model innovation and help monetise their network investments."
The BX 7000 and M-series Circuit Emulation PICs are expected to be generally available in Q4 2008.