stc partners with Juniper for 5G and data centre modernisation

Author: Carly Weller

Juniper Networks has announced that Saudi Telecom Company (stc) is expanding its 5G services to reach a total of 75 cities and regions. By leveraging Juniper 400G routers in its Converged Supercore network and key data centres, stc can dramatically improve network capacity, performance and scale while reducing energy use, all fully aligned with its ongoing digital transformation agenda. Additionally, incorporating automation into the infrastructure further streamlines operations and optimises efficiency, ensuring a seamless user experience.

As stc planned its 5G services expansion, it needed to increase the capacity of the core network and key data centres powering its business and operational support systems for mobile, broadband, residential and B2B services. The objective was to create an elastic fabric with proven performance, able to streamline operations and simplify the network as services grow and evolve. stc prioritised the adoption of energy-efficient technology, underlining its commitment to environmental sustainability, deploying a 400G routing solution that can meet its optimised power and space requirements in support of its goals.

stc uses Juniper Networks PTX10008 Packet Transport Routers to transform its Converged Supercore network. The PTX10008 router delivers 115.2Tbps capacity within a compact 13-U footprint and is 800G-ready to meet future demands. The core upgrade results in a remarkable 1,340% (14.4 times) increase in 100G capacity and an 864-port boost in 400G capacity per rack space, with a 43% reduction in watts/gig power consumption through ground-breaking silicon innovation. 

stc’s modernised data centre, powered by MX10008 routers, delivers a capacity of 76.8Tbps within a 13 RU form factor and is ready for 400G adoption. This modernisation effort enabled by Juniper Networks MX Series Universal Routers delivers a 384-port boost in 400G capacity per site, whilst also achieving a 90% reduction in the physical space requirements per site and an 87% decrease in watts/gig power consumption compared to previous multi-layer designs.

By integrating Juniper’s highly programmable PTX and MX platforms, stc can accelerate model-driven automation to streamline operations. These platforms are equipped with gRPC services, OpenConfig, NETCONF/Yang and native data models, demonstrating the solutions’ simplicity and flexibility.