Project Falcon
Juniper Networks has jumped on the mobile core bandwagon with Project Falcon, a mobile packet core framework based on open standards and flexible software platforms that support a broad range of devices, applications and customer needs.
Foundational products include MX 3D universal edge routers and SRX services gateways using open APIs and SDKs, facilitating the creation of applications by third-party developers, and promising mobile operators open and secure mobile networks based on Junos software. Juniper’s 3D scaling simultaneously addresses subscribers, services and bandwidth to support the demand for 4G mobile services.
Juniper’s approach is quite different from Cisco’s Starent (and Tellabs’ WiChorus) acquisitions, which give them a purpose-built product and (in Cisco’s case) an installed base to leverage. Instead, Juniper’s solution positions it as an open service and network platform. While Juniper’s open approach is attractive, it still needs to build an EPC ecosystem and get operator endorsements, and it doesn’t have much time to do so.
Turnkey competitors such as Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Huawei are already deploying 4G EPC-ready platforms. We look forward to hearing about further EPC developments from Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, Hitachi, Motorola, NEC, Nokia Siemens Networks and ZTE as Silicon Valley converges on Barcelona.