Juniper outbids Symmetricom for synch vendor Brilliant Telecommunications

Seeing network synchronization as one of the holes in its growing wireless product portfolio, Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR) on Friday trumped Symmetricom (Nasdaq: SYMM) to acquire Brilliant Telecommunications with an all-cash $4.5 million offer for the company.

Juniper's move follows Symmetricom's previous $3.5 million bid for Brilliant, one that included an additional $2.3 million in cash if certain milestones are achieved within six months of closing.   

Interestingly, Brilliant's initial reception to Symmetricom's acquisition was positive. While there would be likely product and solution overlaps between the two companies Symmetricom, unlike Juniper, primarily focuses on providing network synchronization.

"My team and I are very pleased to join Symmetricom to expand the company's communications market opportunities," said Dr. Charles Barry, President and Founder of Brilliant Telecommunications in a release announcing the acquisition. "The resulting technology suite will provide unmatched breadth and capability for high performance synchronization solutions."

Despite this initial reaction, it appears that Juniper's higher $4.5 million bid was likely just too good for Brilliant to pass up.

For Juniper what likely made Campbell, Calif.-based, Brilliant valuable was its series of network timing, management and synchronization products, which address not only the emerging IP-based wireless backhaul market, but also the femtocell segment.

Already selling its traditional routing gear to both wireless operators transitioning towards IP-based LTE networks and even wireline-based wholesale operators that provide wireless backhaul, Juniper will be able to provide a broader solution set to these service provider segments.

For more:
- see the Juniper release
- see the Symmetricom release

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