Juniper Networks boosts WiFi access point performance

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 17 November 2011 13:25

Business IT - Networking

Juniper Networks has launched a new 802.11n wireless access point that it says is designed to increase network capacity for high-density Wi-Fi environments, such as educational institutions and medical facilities where handling large, time-sensitive traffic flows from multi-media applications is critical.

The Juniper Networks' WLA532, is believed to be the company's first significant WiFi product announcement since it announced plans to acquire WiFi equipment maker Trapeze Networks from Belden a year ago almost to the day.

Commenting on the acquisition at the time, Alex Gray, senior vice president and general manager of the branch solutions business unit, said: "Juniper plans to invest in Trapeze's existing overlay controller solution and in product integration. We also plan to introduce new access points, controllers, and software features, building on the existing Trapeze technology platform, based on Trapeze work in flight today and accelerated by Juniper IP and substantially increased R&D investment.
 
"This acquisition advances Juniper's vision for the new network, where customers will be able to build an end-to-end routing, security, wired and wireless switching infrastructure that improves users' experience and increases their productivity regardless of location, at the lowest total cost of ownership."

The new product is claimed to offer 50 percent more capacity and to deliver a 40 percent improvement in performance over previous generation 11n access points, requiring fewer APs per floor and improved overall WLAN reliability.

It is also claimed to require 10 percent less power via the auto power-off feature integrated into power over ethernet (PoE). It sells in the US for $1095. Australian pricing has not been announced.