Juniper Networks has expanded its Wi-Fi 6 portfolio of access points (AP) with four new additional models.
According to the vendor, the new hardware models, driven by Mist AI and operated via Juniper’s cloud services, will extend the benefits of the Juniper AI-Driven Enterprise to cost-conscious small businesses, locations with extreme weather conditions (e.g. outdoor), unique form factor requirements (e.g. dormitories) and enterprises looking to address the huge increase in remote workers.
New offerings
The four new APs are:
• AP63 for outdoor use and harsh conditions with support for location services
• AP33 is designed for moderate density Wi-Fi needs that need location services. The AP33 is ideal for smaller enterprise offices, retail sites, K12 schools and medical clinics.
• AP32 is like the AP33 minus advanced location services.
• AP12 comes in a compact wall plate form factor ideal for home offices, remote workers, school dorm and hotel room environments.
The new APs join Juniper Mist flagship Wi-Fi 6 access point – the AP43.
The Juniper AP portfolio simplifies Wi-Fi 6 operations and delivers unique “AI for AX” features such as intelligent load balancing between radios/bands, service levels that monitor and enforce orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) subcarrier assignments, Basic Service Set (BSS) colouring assignments for high-density Wi-Fi environments, sticky client prevention using AI-driven algorithms and advanced radio resource management (RRM).
Juniper Access Points are deployed in conjunction with the Juniper Mist Wi-Fi Assurance cloud service, which enables simple and scalable AIOps, including automated WLAN configuration, service level expectations (SLEs), fault isolation, anomaly detection and dynamic packet capture (dPCAP).
Trending
Brandon Butler, senior research analyst, Enterprise Networks, at IDC, says enterprise WLAN networks have become dynamic environments, with requirements to support a high number of clients, high-bandwidth applications, and high-quality experiences.
He commented that these challenges will only continue to increase. Enterprises will eventually refresh their WLAN infrastructure to meet these needs – features often hardwired into appliances that with limited upgradeable features via firmware updates.
“A new standard within the WLAN market, 802.11ax is helping enterprises tackle challenges of high-density WLAN environments and easing management burdens. While there are macro challenges facing enterprises and WLAN vendors — namely the COVID-19 pandemic — IDC believes the WLAN market will remain an important part of enterprise digital transformation efforts in the years to come," said Butler.
