MWC: Juniper Networks eases connectivity and security issues

Juniper Networks has announced a range of software and services that should help mobile operators boost scale and security and improve connectivity for end users.

The firm said at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that the additions will boost current services, and improve networks for future growth, higher bandwidth and rich media apps.

Juniper expects that there will be billions of smartphones in use by 2020, and is looking to improve the network that it offers to providers and their customers.

"There will be billions of smartphones and tens of billions of machine-to-machine devices on the market which will accelerate the move to IP-based mobile architectures and new business models," said Manoj Leelanivas, executive vice president and general manager of Junos Application Software at Juniper Networks.

Juniper claims to provide solutions that immediately lower cost, orchestrate data and video delivery to maximise Radio Access Network resources, and offer a service innovation platform to provide new services that operators can monetise.

Juniper also announced MobileNext, a continuation of its Project Falcon. This is an open mobile core network that it said will increase service provider innovation.

MobileNext combines a range of features for 2G/3G and LTE core functions, and runs on the MX 3D Universal Edge platform.

Also announced was the MobileNext Broadband Gateway, which pulls together a range of software and should improve mobile scalability, lower set-up costs, and boost forward capacity planning for providers.

Juniper introduced a number of business services designed to improve corporate mobile access to enterprise services and networks.

Adding to this is increased security for users of its Junos Pulse security services with the expansion of the Junos Pulse Mobile Security Suite to include anti-virus, anti-spam, malware protection, and remote device lock and erase to protect against loss or theft.

Finally, two new services will help guide providers into LTE and IPv6 adoption with readiness assessments and optimisation services to boost migration.