Juniper is advancing towards Wi-Fi 7 with the introduction of new switches and access points designed for amplified throughput, reduced latency, and enhanced range suitable for enterprise wireless needs.
The company introduced its new EX Series Ethernet access switches, the EX4400-48MXP and EX4400-48XP. These are engineered to support Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 access points and are managed through the Juniper Mist cloud. This platform leverages AI and offers Juniper’s Mist AI and Marvis virtual network assistant (VNA) for identifying and solving network issues such as faulty clients, poor cable conditions, coverage problems, and WAN link issues.
The 1U EX4400-48MXP supports 1/10GbE access ports, 100GbE uplink/stacking, optional high-speed uplinks, Power-over-Ethernet up to 90W per port (3600W total power), and provides a switching capacity of 1020 Gbps. Similarly, the 1U EX4400-48XP model features 1/10GbE access ports, 100GbE uplink/stacking, optional high-speed uplinks, 90W per port POE (3600W total) and a switching capacity of 696 Gbps.
Additionally, Juniper presents a rugged version of the 4400 switch series capable of operating in severe conditions like high vibrations and shocks, embodying environments that currently use Wi-Fi 6 and 6E and are transitioning towards Wi-Fi 7 technologies.
The EX4400s offer comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionalities and are suitable for use in campus, branch, and data center top‑of‑rack setups, as mentioned by Juniper. These switches can be linked in a virtual chassis of up to 10 units using two 100GbE ports. They are also well suited for Wi‑Fi 7 networks, thanks to their PoE capability, and can efficiently power and manage smart building features such as smart lights, IoT sensors, HVAC, and other PoE devices, according to Juniper.
Juniper also introduced three new models in the AP47 Series of access points: the AP47 with omnidirectional integrated antennas; the AP47D with directional integrated antennas; and the AP47E designed for external antennas.
The AP47 line-up is equipped with a tri-band, four-radio system that supports either dual-5GHz or dual-6GHz configurations, includes a dedicated scanning radio, and features two GBPS Ethernet ports. It incorporates an AI-driven Radio Resource Management system, specially designed for Wi-Fi 7, to automate control over channels, power, and multi-link configurations.
In addition, the AP47s serve as a multifaceted gateway for Wi-Fi/IT/OT/IoT with integrated dual Bluetooth LE (BLE) radios and Ultra Wideband (UWB), enabling the development of new applications, as stated by Juniper.
Juniper has joined several companies in offering Wi-Fi 7 products, though widespread adoption in enterprises is expected to be a few years away. Click here for more information.
The anticipated performance improvements of Wi-Fi 7 could usher in a new wave of mobile and IoT devices and unique applications requiring multi-gigabit speeds. These applications include high-definition video streaming, immersive 3D training, hybrid workplaces, industrial IoT solutions, vehicular technology, and communication services for emergency response, according to Juniper.
Wi-Fi 7 introduces several appealing features, such as Extremely High Throughput (EHT), which allows peak data rates over 40Gbps, a considerable jump from older Wi-Fi generations. It aims for major enhancements primarily in physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers to support a minimum throughput of 30Gbps. Experts highlight these advancements.
Wi-Fi 7 also brings multi-link operation (MLO), enabling simultaneous data transmission and reception across various frequencies and channels, thereby increasing wireless connection efficiency. Features like encryption and authentication through WPA3 Enterprise further boost the security standards of Wi-Fi technology.
There have been a number of Wi-Fi 7 developments this year. One significant milestone occurred when the Wi-Fi Alliance approved its certification standard in January 2024. Most recently, Wi-Fi 7 got a boost when Apple included support for the standard in the release of its new iPhone 16.
Cisco and Intel expanded their partnership to focus on jointly developing Wi-Fi 7 technologies and strengthening interoperability between Cisco access points and Intel client devices. Meanwhile, Fortinet rolled out a Wi-Fi 7 secure access point and switch that will be able to support the wireless technology’s higher data rate and throughput technology.
On the sales front, the Wi-Fi 7 market has been in flux, market researchers say.
According to a report published this month from Dell’Oro Group, the enterprise-class wireless LAN market saw revenues increase quarter-over-quarter to $2.2 billion, and the adoption of Wi-Fi 7 accelerated, with Huawei shipping over half of the world’s units. Dell Oro found that large volumes of Wi-Fi 6E APs were also sold, especially to North America, but compared to the year-ago quarter, sales declined.
“Despite a significant downturn in WLAN revenues compared to last year, the industry saw its first quarter-over-quarter growth in 12 months, which is encouraging,” commented Siân Morgan, a research director at Dell’Oro Group. “The market share rankings have fluctuated greatly due to supply chain disruptions. For instance, Juniper’s Mist WLAN has risen three spots, surpassing CommScope, Extreme, and H3C in the past four quarters. With the market stabilizing, companies are now poised to regain their standings.”
In related news, The 650 Group reported a 24% decline in the enterprise wireless LAN market in the first quarter, totaling about $2.3 billion. However, revenue from cloud-managed WLAN services saw a 6% rise year-over-year, outpacing the overall market significantly.
“Revenue and shipment trends are beginning to align with pre-pandemic patterns, with the market expanding by nearly $200 million sequentially in the second quarter of 2024,” observed Chris DePuy, founder and technology analyst at 650 Group. “Over the next year, we anticipate significant growth in three areas: Wi-Fi 7 technology adoption, continued expansion of cloud-managed services, and AI networking emerging as a key differentiator.”
“As we move towards the end of 2024, the year-over-year comparisons will ease due to the start of inventory corrections in the third quarter of 2023. This shift is expected to benefit key players like Cisco Systems, Ubiquiti, Extreme Networks, and HPE/Aruba Networking as the market momentum picks up,” DePuy added.
