NETWORKS

New Network Integrating EX and MX Series Across Junos OS Simplifies Management, Improves Performance and Reduces Costs

Juniper Networks has announced that Premier Media Group (PMG), Australia's leading sports producer and broadcaster, has deployed a "new network" running the Junos operating system to increase program quality and deliver more high-definition content to its FOX SPORTS customers. Juniper Networks EX4200 Ethernet Switches installed in PMG's mobile production units and MX240 Universal Edge Routers located at its production center support high-capacity, low-latency IP connections that reduce transmission costs and enable back-end production processes to be streamlined.

PMG's FOX SPORTS broadcasts an average of 20 hours of live sports per day to 2.2 million Australian homes through the FOXTEL, AUSTAR and Optus subscription television services. High-definition production places heavy demands on contribution and production networks, which prompted PMG's move from point-to-point satellite links to a high-performance virtual private network, with Gigabit Ethernet fibre links, for transmitting live video footage from 16 major stadia around the country.

"These switches are installed in broadcast production vehicles that travel around the country, so we needed a solution that's very reliable -- bomb proof," said Tony Scanlan, chief technology officer, Premier Media Group. "Like the EX4200 switches, Juniper's MX240 routers are very reliable and offer rock-solid performance. Additionally, with the Junos operating system running across all the Juniper devices, our staff no longer has to manage disparate network devices. Junos OS is very intuitive and has a centralized management platform that has simplified our processes and dramatically increased productivity."

PMG's high-performance network infrastructure deploys Juniper's Virtual Chassis fabric technology on the EX4200 Ethernet Switches, which eliminates the need for an aggregation layer -- a primary source of complexity in the network. By enabling up to 10 interconnected switches to operate as a single logical device, the EX4200 switches with Virtual Chassis technology are ideal for outside broadcast applications as they offer the high-availability and reliability of a carrier-class system with the economics, flexibility and modest space requirements of stackable platforms. The EX4200 switches are installed in PMG's 12 outside broadcast units and hook up to its carrier's optical network interface at each stadium, enabling connection via the VPN to the Fox Sports TV center. Juniper Networks MX240 Ethernet Services Routers are deployed in a high-availability configuration at the Sydney center, which has also implemented the Juniper Networks Network and Security Manager (NSM).

"Live television broadcasting demands the highest network reliability and capacity with low latency and jitter," said Mike Banic, vice president of enterprise marketing for Juniper Networks. "The new network with a single-sourced Junos operating system increases reliability by eliminating complexities, streamlining operations and improving management controls for a better experience. The simplified new network architecture removes high latency and jitter to deliver a premium viewing experience for PMG's customers and reduces the company's capital and operational costs."