Juniper Still Creeping Up on Cisco, Dell'Oro Report Says

Networking challengers are prospering, though the longtime leader is hardly down for the count.

Juniper Networks (JNPR Quote) is continuing to chomp into Cisco Systems' (CSCO Quote) lead in the Internet router market, though not quite as much as some observers had expected, according to figures from a leading market researcher. Meanwhile, Redback Network's (RBAK Quote) edge-of-the-Internet router is knocking the wind out of Nortel Networks' (NT Quote) sails, just as the big telco gear maker tacks upstream.

Juniper amassed 34% of the core router market in the fourth quarter, up 4 points from third-quarter levels, while Cisco's share fell to 65% from 69%, according to the Dell'Oro Group. Core routers are networking gear that sit inside the Internet and act like mail sorters, sending info to addressed destinations. The total core router market in the fourth quarter was valued at $836 million, a 23% increase over the previous quarter. ...