Telecom Lead Asia: Cisco is set to buy Intucell, a self-optimizing network (SON) software provider for $475 million.
The acquisition of the Israel-based company enables Cisco to add a critical network intelligence layer to manage and optimize spectrum, coverage and capacity, and quality of the mobile experience.
Intucell’s SON software enables mobile carriers to plan, configure, manage, optimize and heal cellular networks automatically, according to real-time changing network demands.
The acquisition is part of Cisco’s vision to increase offerings to telecom operators. Intucell enhances Cisco’s ability to deliver solutions with a SON software platform that supports multi-application, multi-vendor and multi-technology capabilities and enables service providers to manage operational costs and make better use of infrastructure investments.
As mobile service providers continue to face increased end-user demand, the need to optimize network bandwidth, usage and services is increasing. Intucell’s SON software platform addresses these challenges by examining the network, identifying issues in real time, and intelligently adapting the network to meet demand.
Through the addition of Intucell’s SON technology, Cisco’s service provider mobility portfolio provides operators with unparalleled network intelligence and the ability to accommodate exploding network traffic and profit from it.
“The mobile network of the future must be able to scale intelligently to address growing and often unpredictable traffic patterns, while also enabling carriers to generate incremental revenue streams,” said Kelly Ahuja, senior vice president and general manager, Cisco Service Provider Mobility Group.
Intucell employees will be integrated into Cisco’s Service Provider Mobility Group, reporting to Shailesh Shukla, vice president and general manager, Software and Applications Group.
