New ACX7000 platform adds more choice and business flexibility to Cloud Metro networks

In 2021, Juniper Networks introduced our vision for the Cloud Metro—a radical reimagining of metro networks to sustain business growth. Since then, the Cloud Metro revolution has continued to pick up steam in customer mindshare, new deployments, and industry recognition. And today, we’re announcing a new addition to the Juniper ACX Family: the ACX7020 access router.

Like the rest of our Cloud Metro portfolio, these new platforms combine the systems and experience-driven operations and architectures that operators need to unlock business growth in evolving metro networks. They extend Juniper’s industry-leading routing capabilities—superior user experience, zero trust security, low total cost of ownership (TCO)—to new network segments and use cases.

With these additions to the Cloud Metro portfolio, you have even more flexibility to extend the right performance and service scale to the right network location. And you can do it while maintaining a consistent feature set and operational experience everywhere.

A growing metro portfolio

The metro represents a uniquely challenging segment of the network. It can encompass a wide variety of locations and facilities, each operating under different environmental conditions with different requirements for capacity, scale, and port configuration. To help address these disparate needs, Juniper continues to add new options across our ACX7000 family product lines.

ACX7020: The I-Temp rated ACX7020 redefines access performance by delivering up to 100G throughput for expanded use cases. A 1 U, compact (23.5 cm depth) is hardened for harsh environments. 5G optimized Cell Site Router (CSR), FWA, CPE, and offers highly accurate timing support, next-generation transport options, and interface support, including 1G, 10G, and 25G port options. Enhanced reliability leads to longer life and lower maintenance costs. Supports conformal coating option and a removable air filter for harsh and dusty environments, making it an ideal access router for power, utilities, railways, and other industrial sectors. The ACX7020 uniquely supports both 48VDC & 24VDC within the same DC Power supply unit for added deployment flexibility.

ACX7020 Cloud Metro Router

ACX7000 Family of Cloud Metro Routers

The Juniper Cloud Metro solution differentiation

With these new additions to the Cloud Metro portfolio, service providers and enterprises now have even more freedom and flexibility to modernize their metro network infrastructure.

Use the right platform for the right location: Our ruggedized, environmentally-rated platforms can be deployed close to customers, including cell sites. In densely populated areas, service providers and enterprises now have a platform option that can manage large forwarding information base (FIB) tables, positioning operators to address growing and often unpredictable demand. In turn, higher-scale platforms can be used in temperature-controlled locations where more density and service scale are needed, such as central offices and metro points of presence locations.

Simplify network-wide operations: Supporting disparate operating environments and use cases doesn’t have to mean adding complexity. With the expanded ACX7000 family portfolio, you can maintain a consistent feature set and operational experience from access through pre-aggregation and aggregation, and chain services across your metro network. Software updates have become simpler and more consistent. And your entire metro footprint uses the same automation-ready platforms, with the same embedded Zero Trust security and active assurance.

Protect your investments: Juniper’s future-ready Cloud Metro provides all the capabilities you need to support your customers today and in the future. You can support current Layer-2 services today and adopt advanced Layer-3/Segment Routing services whenever you’re ready, maintaining the same Junos® So, you can evolve from traditional to next-gen services at your own pace without forklift overhauls.

Cloud Metro momentum continues growing in new markets

It’s not just service providers who want to keep pace with insatiable demand for capacity and performance in a secure, operationally efficient, cost-effective way. Organizations across multiple verticals—cloud providers, enterprises, governments, and more—are recognizing that they can benefit from Cloud Metro capabilities too.

The City of Las Vegas, for example, is using Cloud Metro solutions to support the largest private 5G network infrastructure in the U.S. Juniper’s Cloud Metro solution supports the city government, public schools and tourism applications throughout Las Vegas’ downtown “Innovation District,” serving nearly 642,000 residents and 42 million visitors annually. From connecting local businesses and tourists, supporting public safety and social services, reducing traffic congestion and more, the Cloud Metro-enabled network is helping to turn Las Vegas into a model “smart city.”

Looking Ahead

Today’s new product announcement underscores Juniper’s commitment to advancing the Cloud Metro vision. With more platform choices and flexibility, we’re determined to help our customers choose the right scale for the right location and ease the migration from retro metro to Cloud Metro, achieving future-proofed business growth.