Juniper Networks, a leader in secure, AI-Native Networking, has officially announced several critical enhancements for its leading AI-Native Networking Platform. According to certain reports, each one of these enhancements is conceived to help customers and partners take full advantage of the emerging 802.11be amendment (Wi-Fi 7), which promises higher throughput, lower latency, extended range, and greater reliability than previous Wi-Fi versions. More on the same would reveal how, by combining new Juniper Mist Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs) and high-power campus EX switches with its award-winning Mist™ AI and cloud-native networking and security services, the company’s market-leading wired and wireless Local Area Networking (LAN) access solution uniquely maximizes the full potential of Wi-Fi 7. Not just that, it also ensures a rather seamless, cost-effective, and more sustainable transition to the latest wireless technology.
Talk about the given upgrade on a slightly deeper level, we begin from the introduction of new AP47 Series Access Points that deliver high performance Wi-Fi 7 with integrated location services and advanced AI, all of it markedly built for Wi-Fi 7. To expand upon that a little bit, we must acknowledge how the AP47 is a tri-band, four-radio AP with support for dual-5GHz or dual-6GHz operation, and a dedicated scanning radio. Next up, we must get into the fact that it features AI-driven RRM, which will basically use reinforced learning to automate channel/power/multi-link operation, and therefore, optimize capacity in Wi-Fi 7.
Moving on, the new AP47 Series also comes bearing an ability to function as a converged Wi-Fi/IT/OT/IoT gateway with the unique inclusion of dual Bluetooth LE (BLE) radios and Ultra Wideband (UWB). This it does to enable new applications that drive more business value and better experiences. Joining the same would be a pair of 10 Gbps Ethernet ports that provide high availability and smooth failover for both data and power. At launch, the AP47 series brings forth three distinct models i.e. AP47 with integrated omni-directional antennas; AP47D with integrated directional antennas; and AP47E with connectors for external antennas.
“This announcement directly addresses two of the top concerns from our customers and partners: reliable Wi-Fi that’s easy to manage. Competing solutions in the market may struggle with the additional complexity of configuring and optimizing Wi-Fi networks resulting from recently expanded RF spectrum available for use and additional features of Wi-Fi 7. Juniper’s unique AI for Wi-Fi 7 leverages reinforced learning to optimize channel and power settings to maximize the performance and experience for end users and devices, without manual tuning,” said Sudheer Matta, GVP Products for Campus and Branch at Juniper Networks.
Beyond that, Juniper also took this opportunity to launch two new switches in EX4400-48MXP and EX4400-48XP. In essence, these switches are made to modernize wired/wireless infrastructure through dedicated support for higher power devices, such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 APs, increased multigigabit port density, and an AI-Native, cloud-native architecture which reduces operational expenses. Furthermore, they can streamline IT operations and deliver better experiences for users and devices. Another detail worth a mention here is how the new switches happen to be the only AI-Native and cloud-native switching solution that supports up to 3600W power. Such power, on its part, facilitates pervasive deployment of higher power IoT devices and migration to high performance Wi-Fi 7 Access Points.
“Automation in Juniper’s AI-Native wired and wireless solutions helps accelerate deployments while eliminating significant numbers of networking-related trouble tickets. By expanding its AI-Native Networking Platform with more industry-firsts such as AI-Native Wi-Fi 7, Juniper continues to pioneer the usage of AI in networking for networking to deliver unsurpassed scale, agility and security,” said Chris DePuy, Founder & Technology Analyst at 650 Group.
