In a significant move to enhance WAN performance and operational efficiency, Juniper Networks has announced updates to its AI-Native Routing portfolio, incorporating advanced automation and extending capabilities to the edge. The announcement, made on February 25, 2025, highlights Juniper's commitment to addressing the challenges posed by increasing network traffic and evolving demands in the AI era.
The new enhancements leverage Mist AI, Juniper’s platform for AI-native operations, which enables proactive troubleshooting, closed-loop remediation, and continuous optimisation. Central to this update is the introduction of the ACX7020 Access Edge Router, designed to extend automation capabilities to metro and customer premises. This router aims to deliver high performance while minimising the carbon footprint, aligning with sustainability goals.
As network traffic escalates, particularly due to unpredictable patterns such as Generative AI workloads, the need for reliable WAN connectivity has never been more pressing. Juniper’s expanded portfolio addresses this complexity with enhanced automation that scales effectively across large enterprises and service provider networks.
A key feature of this update is the Juniper® Paragon portfolio, which simplifies WAN automation from initial deployment through ongoing management. This solution significantly reduces deployment times while ensuring consistent user experiences. The recent upgrades include:
- AI-native Routing Observability: Enhanced visibility and control through AIOps, helping to detect routing issues and reduce operational costs by up to 85%.
- Proactive Troubleshooting with LLM Connector: This feature allows customers to utilise their own large language models for improved troubleshooting, expediting the resolution of complex issues.
- Intent-Based Network Optimisation: Juniper now offers fully intent-driven traffic engineering policies, simplifying routing optimisation to meet application performance requirements.
These innovations are complemented by the new ACX7020 Access Edge Router, which is designed for both indoor and outdoor deployment. Its compact form factor allows for installation in space-constrained environments, providing direct connectivity to the WAN and plug-and-play support for AI-native routing.
AE Natarajan, executive vice president and chief development officer at Juniper Networks, stated, “Technical leaders of enterprise, cloud and service provider organisations face multi-faceted challenges to deliver the best possible business results from the WAN in the AI era. By leveraging a combination of innovation and advanced automation, we’re helping customers to quickly lower WAN running costs, achieve significant energy efficiency, and drive exceptional experiences at scale.”
The comprehensive enhancements to Juniper’s routing portfolio represent a proactive approach to addressing the complexities of modern WAN environments. By integrating powerful automation with robust routing capabilities, Juniper Networks is positioning itself as a leader in delivering high-performance networking solutions tailored for the demands of the future.
