Juniper Networks introduced a100 Gigabit Ethernet (100 GE) router interface card for its T1600 Core Router. The 100 GE card, which is being demonstrated at Interop Tokyo, leverages technology originally developed to enable the 100-Gbps slots on the T1600 router. The network interface card will comply with the forthcoming 802.3ba specification (ratification is expected in 2010). Juniper expects beta versions of the product to be ready this year and for commercial shipments to begin in the first half of next year.
Juniper said it has seen considerable interest from wireless and wireline service providers to tying together major metro networks at native 100 Gbps rates. T-1600 routers equipped with the new 100 GE cards could be connected using new DWDM platforms with 100 Gbps wavelength capability from multiple vendors.
Compared to aggregated 10 Gbps or 40 Gbps, Juniper said the new 100 GE interfaces would deliver improved scalability and economics. In particular, bandwidth demand is being driven by the proliferation of 10 GE links, necessitating 100 GE in the core.
Juniper noted that over 500 of its T1600 Core Routers have been shipped to date to over 220 customers worldwide.
‘Verizon is targeting 2010 for commercial deployment of 100G,’ said Glenn Wellbrock, director of Optical Transport Network Architecture & Design, Verizon. ‘The trials conducted in our network to date have focused on proving that our existing optical transmission systems are ready to support 100G. What has been missing so far is a true 100G client-side core router interface, so we are encouraged to see Juniper announcing 100 GE interfaces for its T1600 routers. Given the growth in our FiOS, wireless and IP services, 100G is critical for the core of the network to scale efficiently and simply. By adding 100 GE interfaces to the T1600, Juniper is providing the capability to leverage existing assets to scale the core with maximum operational efficiency.’http://www.juniper.net
