Ace networking solutions vendor Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR) is now offering its Media Flow Controller solution to a Caribbean telecom firm, LIME. Financial details of the deal were not divulged.
LIME is the Caribbean subsidiary of U.K.-based Cable & Wireless Communications plc, which provides mobile, broadband and domestic/international fixed line services, mobile data services and entertainment services to consumers, businesses and governments. LIME delivers landline, Internet, mobile and entertainment services to thirteen Caribbean countries.
With Juniper’s Media Flow Controller, LIME will be able to strengthen its latest iteration of TV and video services. It can also deliver roughly 130 live channels using adaptive bit rate, a technique that varies the quality of video streams based on the available bandwidth.
This deal is also very significant for Juniper, as it marks the ramp of its Media Flow Controller, a product that was developed with technological aid from Ankeena Networks. Juniper acquired Ankeena Networks, a privately held provider of new media infrastructure technology and former Juniper partner, in June last year. A surge in demand for rich media content motivated Juniper to make this acquisition.
Ankeena not only added to Juniper’s product portfolio but also helped the development of in-house capabilities to help Juniper compete against the likes of Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) that have similar media streaming efforts in play.
Overall, we remain encouraged by the rate at which Juniper’s products and services are being deployed by organizations and government customers across the world. We also appreciate Juniper’s continuous efforts to make strategic acquisitions, which enrich its product portfolio.
Despite Juniper’s strong product line-up, we are a bit cautious about its third quarter results, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Moreover, stiff competition from industry stalwarts and Juniper’s European exposure are weighing on the stock.
Juniper has a Zacks #4 Rank, implying a short-term Sell rating.
