SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:JNPR - News) today announced it has been appointed as the technological partner of the GARR Consortium for the enhancement of the new Italian R&E (Research and Education) network. Juniper Networks products provide the ability to handle both multi-service edge and core routing functions on a single platform and to use advanced, reliable and high-performance IP services with a guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS). The Juniper Networks deployment will enhance the inter-connection of all Italian universities and research institutions, and will also provide more powerful communication with the pan-European GEANT R&E network and beyond.

"The features of the Juniper Networks platforms will contribute to the evolution of the GARR network, ensuring a robust platform for the future development of new services without compromising the network's performance for existing services, including virtual private networks (VPNS), with plans for VPLS and IPv6 in hand," said Professor Enzo Valente, director of the GARR Consortium.

The GARR Consortium chose to deploy the Juniper Networks M320 routing platform at the core of its 10Gbps infrastructure, to expand innovative network capabilities such as MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) nationwide and to ensure very high-speed access to the major Italian and international research centers.

The GARR Consortium, an association comprising all the entities representing the scientific and educational community in Italy, provides students and researchers with high-speed interconnection services to the GARR network, to R&E networks throughout Europe and worldwide, and to the Internet. As a result of its ongoing focus on research, the GARR Consortium and its network is at the forefront of experimentation and implementation of new telecommunications solutions for its users.

Eddie Minshull, vice president of sales in EMEA for Juniper Networks, said: "This collaboration with the GARR Consortium confirms the key technology role already played by Juniper Networks in the European and international research and education community, as evidenced by the 17 networks that implemented Juniper Networks routing solutions over the past 13 months."

Juniper Networks Inc.