Solutions & Technologies
Open RAN
Open RAN (O-RAN) is a shift in mobile network architecture from a closed vendor environment to an open, intelligent, and programmable one. O-RAN enables vendors, service providers, and developers to deploy innovative services as radio access network (RAN) applications that take advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
Juniper has always advocated the importance of openness and interoperability in networking because it fosters innovation. Democratizing the RAN space matters because it gives service providers the freedom of choice to select best-of-breed vendors when designing and building their infrastructure. This helps to reduce costs; drives simplicity in design, build, and operation; and speeds deployment.
Driving the O-RAN narrative in the industry
Juniper is an active proponent of O-RAN in several industry and standards organizations. We are contributing to 5 out of the 11 working groups in the O-RAN Alliance. Juniper is also the chair of the Network Slicing Task Group, co-chair of the Use Case Task Group, and editor and contributor to several specification documents.
How Juniper can help
Juniper offers O-RAN-compliant products and solutions across the entire network.
Open and interoperable RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)
Juniper RIC brings intelligence and programmability to RAN by enabling third-party applications that can improve service experience, reduce costs, and deliver new business models. It is fully compliant with O-RAN specifications and interfaces to enable multivendor integration. It supports both an open API and an SDK for integration with any third-party O-RAN-compliant xApps or rApps.
O-RAN Service Management and Orchestration (SMO)
Juniper O-RAN SMO orchestrates and automates resources end to end, across all clouds and data centers in an O-RAN network. The Juniper O-RAN SMO is architected for 5G network slicing, implementing the 3GPP-defined RAN Network Slice Subnet Management Function (RAN NSSMF). The Juniper SMO supports standard interfaces such as 3GPP, O-RAN, and TMF across the entire architecture.
Low-latency O-RAN fronthaul
O-RAN fronthaul connections require very low end-to-end latency and jitter. Juniper Networks ACX Series of routers support IEEE 802.1 Time-Sensitive Networking Profile A for prioritized enhanced Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI) or Precision Time Protocol (PTP) packets, Class D timing, and transport features such as segment routing, SRv6, and Ethernet VPN (EVPN).
O-RAN security
O-RAN requires protection of the virtualization infrastructure. Also, encrypted communication between O-RAN network functions makes it harder and expensive to detect threats. Juniper vSRX Virtual Firewall and cSRX Container Firewall enable microsegmentation to prevent lateral threat movement. Juniper’s Encrypted Traffic Insights detects threats effectively without the need for decryption.
Open ecosystem
Juniper is working across the community—platform providers, equipment vendors, application vendors, and system integrators—to deliver O-RAN. Juniper RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) Partner Program helps third-party developers create and deploy innovative applications on the Juniper RIC platform.
The Products
High-performance ACX Series Routers serve metro access, aggregation, and data center use cases. They are energy-efficient, CE 3.0 compliant, and support 5G high-precision timing and synchronization.
Protect your network edge, data center, and cloud applications with Juniper’s next-generation physical, virtual, and containerized firewalls. They’re all managed via Juniper Security Director Cloud for a unified management experience and consistent security policy enforcement.
ACX7100
The ACX7100, part of the ACX7000 family, delivers high density and performance in a compact, 1 U footprint. Ideal for service provider, large enterprise, wholesale, and data center applications, it helps operators deliver premium customer and user experiences.
ACX7332 and ACX7348
Part of the ACX7300 line, the ACX7332 and ACX7348 are compact, environmentally rated routers designed for multiservice applications. They combine a fixed, redundant platform with three bays of modularity for customization, scalability, high availability, and exceptional performance.
ACX7509
The ACX7509, part of the ACX7000 family, is a high-availability, power-efficient, and modular 5 U platform. Ideal for service providers, data centers, and large enterprises, it helps network operators deliver differentiated customer experiences.
vSRX
The vSRX Virtual Firewall provides uncompromised flexibility, security effectiveness, and performance in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, IBM Cloud, and Oracle Cloud environments.
cSRX
The highly agile cSRX Container Firewall offers advanced security services to improve visibility and secure applications running in containers and microservices.
Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP)
As a threat intelligence hub for the network, Juniper ATP features a litany of built-in advanced threat services that use AI and machine learning to detect attacks and optimize enforcement. It protects against known and unknown threats, assesses and verifies device and IoT risk, and analyzes encrypted traffic.
Juniper RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)
The open and interoperable Juniper RIC platform is fully compliant with O-RAN Alliance specifications and interfaces and brings intelligence, agility, and programmability to the radio access networks of public mobile network operators and enterprise private mobile networks.
Related Solutions
5G Networks
Juniper’s open ecosystem approach to 5G unlocks the full power and potential of your network. We can help you reimagine your architecture, operations, and service experience to create new business value and compete in the coming decade.
Data center networks
Simplify operations and ensure reliability with the modern, automated data center. Juniper helps you automate and continuously validate the entire network life cycle to ease design, deployment, and operations.
Service Provider Security
Juniper Connected Security safeguards users, data, and infrastructure by extending threat intelligence to all connection points across your network.
Segment Routing
Our source-based routing solution provides greater control, agility, and application awareness to simplify traffic engineering and management across network domains.
Resource center
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Best Automation Solution in O-RAN
Open RAN FAQs
What is Open RAN?
Open RAN is an ongoing shift in mobile network architectures that enables service providers the use of non-proprietary subcomponents from a variety of vendors. An Open RAN, or open radio access network, is made possible by a set of industry-wide standards that telecom suppliers can follow when producing related equipment. Open RAN enables programmable, intelligent, disaggregated, virtualized, and interoperable functions. Specifically, the proprietary remote radio head (RRH) and baseband units (BBUs) are now disaggregated to radio units (RUs), distributed units (DUs), and centralized units (CUs), which can be virtualized or containerized. The interfaces between these new components are open and interoperable.
The O-RAN Alliance defines the specifications for all Open RAN components and the interfaces between them. Founded in 2018, the O-RAN Alliance is a progressive, global community comprising mobile network operators, manufacturers, vendors, and research and academic organizations working in telecommunications spaces all over the world.
What Open RAN technology, solutions, and products does Juniper offer?
Juniper offers the following Open RAN products and solutions:
Juniper RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC): Brings intelligence and programmability to the radio access network (RAN). It supports third-party applications that can improve service experience, reduce infrastructure and operational costs, and deliver new business models. The Juniper RIC platform is fully compliant with O-RAN Alliance specifications and interfaces.
Juniper O-RAN Service Management and Orchestration (SMO): Orchestrates and automates resources end to end, across all clouds and data centers in an Open RAN network. The Juniper O-RAN SMO is architected for 5G network slicing, implementing the 3GPP-defined RAN Network Slice Subnet Management Function (RAN NSSMF).
Juniper ACX Low-latency O-RAN fronthaul: Requires very low latency and jitter. Juniper ACX family of routers support IEEE 802.1 Time-Sensitive Networking Profile A for prioritized enhanced Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI) or Precision Time Protocol (PTP) packets, Class D timing, and transport features such as segment routing, SRv6, and Ethernet VPN (EVPN).
Juniper O-RAN Security: Open RAN introduces new network functions with open interfaces between them that need to be secured. Juniper Service Provider Security solutions such as xSRX/cSRX enable microsegmentation to prevent lateral movement. Juniper’s Encrypted Traffic Insights allow customers to detect threats effectively without the need for decryption.
Who should use the Juniper Open RAN products and solutions?
Juniper Open RAN solutions are relevant for all service providers planning to deploy Open RAN technology in their networks. The solutions are also relevant to enterprises choosing Open RAN-compliant radio networks for their private mobile network deployments.