HPE Clears US Hurdle to Acquire Juniper Networks

In early 2024, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) announced its proposed acquisition of Juniper Networks, a deal initially threatened by a U.S. government lawsuit. The Department of Justice argued the merger would stifle competition, particularly in the Wi-Fi market. However, just weeks before the trial, HPE and Juniper reached a settlement with the government, paving the way for the acquisition to proceed.

Key Concessions to Secure Approval

To address antitrust concerns, HPE agreed to two major concessions:

1. Divestiture of Instant On: HPE will sell its Instant On business, which caters to small and medium-sized businesses with networking hardware. Critics argue this move is odd, as Instant On competes more with mid-market players like TP-Link and Ubiquiti rather than giants like Cisco.
2. Limited Access to Mist AIOps: HPE will grant up to two licenses to Juniper’s Mist AIOps source code via an auction process. The winning bidders (each paying at least $8 million) will also gain access to Juniper’s technical and sales teams to facilitate integration.

Market Dynamics and Competition

The U.S. government’s primary concern was reduced competition in the networking sector, particularly with Cisco dominating the market. HPE and Juniper countered that their merger would actually enhance competition by creating a stronger rival to Cisco. The settlement reflects a compromise, though some question whether the concessions address the core issue of market concentration.

HPE’s Strategic Moves

At HPE Discover 2025, CEO Antonio Neri frequently discussed the Juniper acquisition, hinting at confidence in its completion. HPE’s focus on AI-driven networking solutions, such as its GreenLake Intelligence platform, suggests the company is already advancing its AIOps capabilities independently of Juniper’s Mist technology.

What’s Next?

With the lawsuit resolved (pending court approval), HPE and Juniper can finalize the acquisition. The deal underscores HPE’s ambition to strengthen its position in the networking market, though the long-term impact on competition remains to be seen.

Also read: HPE acquires Juniper: surprising, but makes quite a bit of sense