CMC Networks

CMC Networks and Juniper Networks Join Forces to Power Africa’s First AI-Driven Network

21 July 2021

CMC Networks, Africa and the Middle East’s premier data network provider, has announced enhancements to its SD-WAN delivery network. Long recognized as an innovator in the world of networking, CMC Networks has changed the game in service delivery by standardizing on Juniper Networks’ STEP (Service and Topology Exchange Protocol) for service delivery to its customer base across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The move allows CMC to leverage the intelligence of Juniper Session Smart™ Routers to build an infrastructure that can learn network topology and service information dynamically, enabling the delivery of intelligent services with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

Geoff Dornan, CTO for CMC Networks, says, "We chose the Juniper Session Smart Router because of STEP which works in the same way as Waze or Google Maps, intuitively navigating network traffic with real-time data information. It allows accurate and immediate decision making autonomously, minimizing delays to ensure that network traffic arrives at its destination in the most efficient way possible. This helps to ensure that our customers receive an SD-WAN service that is high performing, secure and reliable.”

Juniper empowers CMC to differentiate services offerings with true intent-based networking with routers that learn business intent and connect consumers to business services efficiently. CMC has been rolling out Juniper Session Smart Routers across Africa, Europe and the Middle East for the last three years, leveraging CMC’s scale and footprint to enable digital transformation across the region. Together with CMC’s software-defined flexible services edge platform, C-RAN™, STEP complements this next-generation SDN architecture by overlaying a new level of insight and intelligence.

"Juniper and our Session Smart Routers are laser focused on optimizing user experience. We recognized early that networks must be application aware to support the demands of the evolving enterprise and to deliver the highest levels of user experience. Session Smart Routing and STEP tick all the necessary boxes by delivering on the promise of a truly intelligent network that adapts as user requirements change,” said Sue Graham Johnston, VP and GM at Juniper Networks. “We are thrilled that our partnership with CMC has yielded the delivery of this much-needed solution and look forward to our continued collaboration."

CMC Networks’ Story as a Global Data Carrier Provider

CMC Networks, headquartered in South Africa, is a global service provider, providing data connectivity to a multitude of evolving market verticals such as Carrier, Governments, Multinationals, and various Non-Profit organizations. CMC Networks operates more than 110 service locations globally, providing a cost-effective, scalable, and resilient network. Our broad portfolio of Carrier Grade Network Solutions includes Ethernet, MPLS, DIA, Next Generation SDN, SD-WAN, Cloud based solutions and Hands & Eyes Services.