Juniper Networks launches new Mist AI-powered Wi-Fi 6 access points

Juniper Networks has launched four new wireless access points (APs) that extend the benefits of AI-driven Wi-Fi 6 to additional verticals and use cases.

Juniper in its release has said that these new hardware models, driven by Mist AI and operated via Juniper’s award-winning cloud services, can now bring all of the benefits of the Juniper AI-Driven Enterprise to cost-conscious small businesses, locations with extreme weather conditions (e.g. outdoor), unique form factor requirements (e.g. dormitories) and enterprises looking to address the huge increase in remote workers.

From stores and schools to homes and hospitals, companies of all sizes and with a wide array of deployment requirements can now take advantage of the insight, automation, performance, and actions uniquely delivered by the Juniper Mist wireless solution.

To complement the robust family of existing Juniper access points driven by Mist AI, we are introducing the following 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) AP models:

• AP63: Extremely high-performance Wi-Fi 6 outdoor AP with vBLE antenna array to deliver Wi-Fi and location services in outdoor and extremely harsh environments.

• AP33: High-performance Wi-Fi 6 AP with integrated vBLE antenna array to support Wi-Fi and location services for moderate density Wi-Fi needs that also require accurate location services. Ideal for smaller enterprise offices, retail sites, K12 schools, and medical clinics.

• AP32: High-performance Wi-Fi 6 AP with integrated omni BLE antenna to support Wi-Fi and basic asset visibility location services for cost-sensitive environments. Ideal for remote workers, smaller enterprise offices, and K12 schools that do not require advanced location services.

• AP12: Compact wall plate Wi-Fi 6 AP with easy and flexible deployment while enabling the connection of multiple devices. It is ideal for home offices, remote workers, school dorm and hotel room environments.

The new APs follow in the footsteps of AP43, the Juniper Mist flagship Wi-Fi 6 access point. As the first cloud-managed Wi-Fi 6 access points with integrated AI-driven automation and insight, the Juniper AP portfolio is claimed to simplify Wi-Fi 6 operations and delivers unique “AI for AX” features such as intelligent load balancing between radios/bands, service levels that monitor and enforce orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) subcarrier assignments, Basic Service Set (BSS) coloring assignments for high-density Wi-Fi environments, sticky client prevention using AI-driven algorithms and advanced radio resource management (RRM).

Juniper Access Points are deployed in conjunction with the Juniper Mist Wi-Fi Assurance cloud service, which enables simple and scalable AIOps, including automated WLAN configuration, service level expectations (SLEs), fault isolation, anomaly detection and dynamic packet capture (dPCAP).

The Marvis Virtual Network Assistant (VNA) is an optional additional cloud service that provides interactive drill down into network and user behavior, prescriptive actions and AI-driven operations.  All Juniper Mist products come with AI-driven support which includes proactive notifications, automated workflows, and “flattened” TAC tiers for accelerated problem resolution with fewer headaches.