NEC Corp., its subsidiary Netcracker, Juniper Networks, and ADVA joined forces this week to announce an integrated packet-optical automation platform in a bid to simplify 5G transport.

The multi-vendor collaboration is part of NEC’s xHaul Transformation Services and builds on a nearly 10-year relationship between Juniper and NEC. The platform combines Juniper’s automated IP WAN transport products, ADVA's secure optical connectivity capabilities, and Netcracker's multi-domain service orchestration and automation functionality.

The platform also combines Juniper's 400 Gb/s routers with ADVA’s FSP 3000 open-line system to provide scalable IP networking using 400G ZR coherent optical pluggables.

“There is still a large number of service providers that we know that are still operating their packet networks and optical networks separately,” said Jim Benson, director of mobile product marketing at Juniper Networks. “And that's inefficient, and will not scale well, and [won't] accommodate what's required for 5G.”

It's one of the reasons Juniper teamed up with NEC and ADVA to develop a turnkey packet-optical platform, he explained, adding that Juniper's Paragon automation platform is key to the overall 5G xHaul technology.

Juniper debuted the Paragon Automation portfolio, which includes its WAN automation products, earlier this year. It provides lifecycle management of the underlay network and includes Juniper’s PTX-series packet transport and ACX-series universal metro routers, as well as the MX-series universal routing platform. According to Benson, the appliances address the bulk of the routing requirements for the xHaul platform.