Juniper Networks names London Internet Exchange as first PTX Series Transport Switch customer

London Internet Exchange Ltd. (LINX), a mutually owned membership association for operators of IP networks, and Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR) say that Juniper Networks will supply equipment for a new network for users of the LINX IP exchange. Juniper Networks will supply the Juniper Networks PTX Series Packet Transport Switch it announced earlier this year in the second phase of the network build (see "PTX Series Packet Transport Switch starts Juniper Networks down packet-optical transport path"). This makes LINX the first announced customer for the PTX Series.

LINX operates one of the largest Internet exchange points in the world. The not-for-profit mutual association’s members include ISPs and content providers worldwide. The LINX infrastructure comprises 10 points of presence (PoPs) across London, from Docklands in the east to Slough in the west. In the first phase of the new network build, Juniper Networks will supply its MX Series Ethernet Services Routers for placement in these PoPs, along with Junos Space, Juniper Networks' programmable network application platform. Junos Space Network Activate, an MPLS network automation application, is also being deployed within the first phase.

The second phase, scheduled for the first half of 2012, will include the PTX Series Packet Transport Switches and will run on Junos OS, Juniper's single operating system in common with the phase 1 deployment. A Juniper Networks source recently told Lightwave that development of the PTX Series is going smoothly and that first delvieries of the system should begin in the first quarter of next year (see "Juniper details progress on PTX Packet Transport Switch, 100GbE").

"We believe a huge proportion of the UK's traffic passes across our infrastructure with LINX passing approximately 1.5 Tbps of traffic at peak, and our members expect consistent, reliable throughput. The architecture will allow us to offer a sophisticated carrier platform from which we can launch new services such as VLAN tagging and 100G ports," said John Souter, LINX's chief executive officer. "We've chosen Juniper as our desire to build a Layer 3 platform led us to a vendor with a reputation for robust, carrier-grade networks, and their ability to provide high-performance at scale. Traffic levels are only going in one direction -- next year we have to factor in even more growth resulting from the Olympics bringing the world to London -- so our investment in Juniper enables us to build a fast, cost-effective platform for the long-term good of our members and their customers."

The LINX deployment is being facilitated by Juniper Networks' local partner, Telindus Ltd.