Sonus, Juniper Networks Form an Alliance to Develop Software Defined Network (SDN) Capabilities

WESTFORD, Mass. — Sonus Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:SONS, news, filings), a global leader in SIP communications, today announced it is working with Juniper Networks, the industry leader in network innovation, as part of Juniper’s Technology Alliance Program to jointly deliver integrated solutions designed to simplify the way service providers deliver differentiated Cloud-based Unified Communications (UC) and video experiences to enterprises.

Use of video within UC is a key driver of increased communications traffic and a growing burden on service provider networks. For example, according to Gartner Inc., mobile data traffic will experience a 70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2011 through 2016 and video is expected to account for over 50% of all mobile traffic over the coming five years (Source: Mobile Data and Video Traffic; August 28, 2012; Jessica Ekholm).

To address this and other requirements of delivering UC services, the combined Sonus and Juniper solution will help service providers simplify network design, reduce costs and effectively monetize networks through delivery of new tiered service offers. Through this integration, real-time interaction between Sonus Session Border Controllers (SBCs) and Juniper’s routing and forwarding plane during the establishment of a UC session permits a level of quality of service (QoS) delivery that is not possible in isolation. Service providers that leverage this capability can operate their existing networks in a highly cost-effective manner carrying voice, video and UC traffic. It also ensures delivery of tiered levels of services by dynamically assigning network resources to a communication session based on predefined policies, improving service delivery, enhancing user experience and optimizing network utilization..

The ability to deliver differentiated, Cloud-based UC and video services to enterprises is increasingly important to service providers for reasons including:

• End user spending for public Cloud-based services is predicted by Gartner Inc. to grow at a 16.8% CAGR from 2011 through 2017, to over $237B (Source: Forecast: Public Cloud Services, Worldwide, 2011-2017, 1Q13 Update, March 26, 2013)
• Use of video across enterprises is reaching mainstream portions as 71% of businesses are using, evaluating or planning to use extranet videoconferencing for B2B collaboration according to the Nemertes Research (Source: Oct. 2012, Benchmark Report)
• In a shift from a 2011 Cloud study, Infonetics Research found in December 2012 that collaboration tools and security have overtaken email as the top Software as a Service (SaaS) application (Source: Press Release: SDN, OpenFlow, collaboration and security on the minds of operators planning Cloud services, January 2013)
• Currently 65% of UC deployments are premises-based, though that is expected to drop to 31% as future deployments move more to the Cloud according to a survey by Webtorials (Source: Feb. 2013 Research Report)

The joint Sonus – Juniper solution is being demonstrated at Juniper Networks’ OpenLab, The Junos and SDN Center for Innovation in Bridgewater, New Jersey where visitors can experience various levels of video services and commensurate network behavior. Sonus and Juniper are currently working together on customer engagements..

By collaborating Sonus and Juniper will:

• Deliver, test and demonstrate integrated solutions leveraging each company’s experience at their respective levels within the network
• Coordinate sales and go-to-market activities

Quotes:

“Juniper and Sonus share a commitment to our global telecommunications service provider customers of providing seamlessly integrated network components that dynamically respond to network conditions to ensure particular levels of service,” said Aruna Ravichandran, vice president, product and solutions marketing of Juniper Networks. “By partnering with Sonus to fully integrate and test these solutions, we believe we are simplifying the delivery of tiered services required by our service provider customers.”

“The industry is seeing unprecedented growth in the usage of video as mode of Unified Communications. This will place a huge CapEx burden on service providers as they scale their networks to handle this surge,” said David Tipping, vice president and general manager, SBC Business, Sonus. “By working closely with Juniper, the integration of our products enables expansion of the types of Unified Communications and video services able to be offered to enterprises and dynamically optimizes use of network resources.”

As recently published by Gartner, “Software-defined networking and network function virtualization could revolutionize communication service providers’ businesses,” stated Akshay Sharma, co-author and Research Director at Gartner Inc. The May 2013 report, “SDN and NFV Offer CSPs a New Way to Do Business” co-authored by Sharma and Akiyoshi Ishiwata further includes that “The holistic control of software-defined networking (SDN) with the elasticity of network function virtualization (NFV) gives communications service providers (CSPs) new and more flexible business models.”

Other Facts:

• Sonus recently announced significant software and hardware enhancements to its SBC portfolio. New SBC portfolio offerings include two new modular platforms – the Sonus SBC 5110 and SBC 5210 Session Border Controllers – and the industry’s first enhanced Survivable Branch Appliance (SBA) functionality with 3G/4G failover capability to ensure that the Microsoft Lync Server will operate at a high level of security and quality in branch office locations in the event of a wide area network (WAN) outage.
• Sonus is the fastest growing brand of session border controllers, growing five times faster than the industry average of SBC service provider vendors (source: Infonetics Research).
• Sonus has the broadest portfolio of Microsoft Lync qualified SBCs, and Sonus solutions have been performance verified by Miercom Labs.

Additional Resources:

• Sonus published the third edition of “Session Border Controllers for Dummies“ reference book in partnership with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Download a free copy here.
• Read the RCRWireless article by David Tipping, “This Is What the Future of High-Quality Video Looks Like.“
• Download the Webtorials report, “Enterprises Place 2013 Unified Communications Bets: How Many Horses in This Race?“
• Refer to the Gartner Inc. May 2013 report “SDN and NFV Offer CSPs a New Way to Do Business” by Akshay K. Sharma, Akiyoshi Ishiwata.
• Sonus will be presenting on “Cloud: Is It All or Nothing?” at the International Avaya User Group (IAUG) Conference, June 3 in Orlando, Florida.

Tags:

Sonus, SONS, Session Border Controller, SBC, SBC 5110, SBC 5210, SIP, SIP trunking, IP, IPsec, media transcoding, Enterprise SBC, Unified Communications, UC, Cloud, cloud-based services, VoIP communications, enterprise communications, Session Initiation Protocol, SIP-based solutions, VoIP, service provider, tiered services, service creation, video, Juniper, Juniper Networks, Software Defined Network, SDN, Survivable Branch Appliance, SBA, Software as a Service, SaaS, Network Function Virtualization, NFV

About Sonus Networks:

Sonus helps the world’s leading communications service providers and enterprises embrace the next generation of SIP-based solutions including VoIP, video and Unified Communications through secure, reliable and scalable IP networks. With customers around the globe and 15 years of experience transforming networks to IP, Sonus has enabled service providers and enterprises to capture and retain users and generate significant ROI. Sonus products include session border controllers, policy/routing servers, subscriber feature servers and media and signaling gateways. Sonus products are supported by a global services team with experience in design, deployment and maintenance of some of the world’s largest and most complex IP networks. For more information, visit www.sonus.net or call 1-855-GO-SONUS.

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

The information in this release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Although Sonus believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this report are forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Sonus’ business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of Sonus’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements represent Sonus’ views only as of the date on which such statement is made, and should not be relied upon as representing Sonus’ views as of any subsequent date. While Sonus may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point, Sonus specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Sonus Networks:
Wendy Tullo, +1 972-301-4978
wtullo@sonusnet.com

or

Lois Paul & Partners
Anastasia Efstratios, 617-986-5873
anastasia_efstratios@lpp.com