Cisco has announced its intent to acquire the Israeli mobile networking startup Intucell for $475 million in cash and retention incentives. Headquartered in Ra’anana, Intucell provides advanced self-optimizing network (SON) software, which enables mobile carriers to plan, configure, manage, optimize and heal cellular networks automatically, according to real-time changing network demands.
The deal is expected to be completed by the end of April.
Intucell’s SON software platform keeps cell towers from getting jammed. If there are too many users connected to one cell tower, Intucell’s technology will adapt the network to meet demand.
With the evolution of LTE 4G networks, mobile operators are increasingly looking for a more cost effective and efficient way to keep up with demand for bandwidth and reduce complexity, said Cisco.
“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. “Through the addition of Intucell’s industry-leading SON technology, Cisco’s service provider mobility portfolio provides operators with unparalleled network intelligence and the unique ability to not only accommodate exploding network traffic, but to profit from it.”