Brunei Darussalam’s Unified National Networks (UNN) is working with Juniper Networks to upgrade its telecommunication network infrastructure.
UNN was formed in 2019 when Brunei consolidated all existing networking infrastructure nationwide into a wholesale company and created retail service providers with the intention of unifying national networks and creating a “modern and cost-effective” digital platform connecting the whole country.
According to UNN’s CEO, Steffen Oehler, Brunei shut down the country’s old 2G network, upgraded hundreds of mobile base stations, and was preparing to launch 5G services in 2022 based on market demand.
He added that UNN is refreshing Brunei’s network from core to the edge, developing a telco cloud to deliver fixed, mobile, and ICT systems.
Oehler said the company is using Juniper Network’s MX960 universal routing platforms as they “provide high scale, density and space efficiency” for UNN 100 Gbps backbone and edge networks.
Juniper’s ACX2200 universal metro routers provide metro Ethernet and radio access network aggregation services for UNN.
The Juniper SRX5800 services gateways, used by the company, are bolstered by advanced security features such as AppSecure and intrusion prevention system (IPS), “delivering next-generation firewall and Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT Service Gateway)”, providing an additional security layer, he added.
Also, the compact, hardened ACX2200 universal metro routers provide metro Ethernet and radio access network aggregation services.
The network upgradation is part of an effort by Brunei to create a modernised and efficient telecommunication backbone that would support the government’s five-year master plan to transform the country into a Smart Nation, which was announced in 2020.
Home to one of the most connected populations in the Asia Pacific with an internet penetration rate of 95 percent, Brunei is also one of the world’s richest countries.
Till date, UNN has laid over 3,000 km of fibre, connecting 93,000 homes and providing cellular service to around 90 percent of Brunei’s populated areas and connecting roads.
Juniper Network’s Senior Director, ASEAN & Taiwan, Perry Sui, said with the network upgrades, which are supported by Juniper’s Professional Services and Advanced Services, “UNN can continue to provide high-quality network services and enhanced end-user experiences that support Brunei’s strategic vision of creating a dynamic and sustainable digital economy”.
“As the country moves towards becoming a Smart Nation, it is crucial that we constantly modernise our systems with industry-leading solutions that will help us provide reliable, secure and stable telecommunications services across Brunei,” Oehler said.
