The 4 Most Important Factors In Cisco's ASR 9000 Upgrade And 5G Push

Model Citizen

Cisco Systems Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins has been peppering his public comments with '5G' for months, and now the networking kingpin is rolling out upgraded edge routers and automation software available on a consumption-based purchasing model.

Cisco recently rolled out an upgrade of its long-running ASR 9000 edge routing platform that features enhancements to its IOS XR operating system, automation software, and a new high-density networking processor.

The upgrades are intended to help carriers adopt 5G mobile communication technology as the market for outsize data connectivity develops. The new ASR 9000, Cisco says, allows carriers to respond to customer needs and shifting market conditions in real time.

Here are the four most important things to know about the newly upgraded flagship router.

The Market

The number of 5G connections is expected to exceed 25 million by 2021, according to Cisco. That number represents almost unbelievable growth from the 2.3 million 5G connections expected for 2020, the company said. On top of all that, demand for multi-cloud services is ramping up and customers' demand for requirements are getting heavier. The ASR 9000, Cisco says, meets those demands while pumping up bandwidth capabilities.

New And Improved

As the long-running flagship of Cisco's routing line, the ASR 9000 has found a home among thousands of enterprise, public sector and service provider customers, and has managed billions of network connections, Cisco says. The company argues that the platform is now ready to take those customers into the 5G and multi-cloud era thanks to new automation software, a new networking processor, high-density 100GE line cards and an improved operating system.

Payment Options

Cisco is introducing the upgraded ASR 9000 as service providers build out the capabilities necessary to support multiple services and rapid shifts in network traffic. Cisco's pay-as-you-grow licensing strategy allows ports on the ASR 9000's new line cards to be activated on demand. That means customers aren't forced to forecast capacity and purchase licenses on a site-by-site basis. The new flexible licenses can be allocated as needed across the globe.

Automatic Shift

An upgraded IOS XR operating system readies the ASR 9000 for automation, and for driving down operational expenditures. Cisco says service providers can now take advantage of the Cisco Crosswork Network Automation portfolio, a closed-loop, mass-scale automation solution designed for multi-vendor networks, and the company says the improvement makes Cisco the leader in both network agility while optimizing cost.