Juniper Networks has acquired BTI Systems, a provider of metro optical networking and software, bolstering its cloud and SDN capabilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Jonathan Davidson, EVP and general manager for Juniper Development and Innovation (JDI), said in a blog post that purchasing BTI will enable it to help carrier customers roll out more automated packet-based optical services.
"We expect the acquisition will allow Juniper to accelerate the delivery of open and automated packet optical transport solutions that integrate with our NorthStar Controller and include network management features that enable end-to-end provisioning of new services," Davidson said.
Additionally, Juniper will be able to enhance its presence in the 100G optical metro optical market and the growing data center interconnection market to more effectively compete against rivals such as Ciena and Infinera.
It also speaks to the ongoing consolidation of the optical market segment. In 2015, Ciena and Infinera bolstered their own metro and SDN portfolios by purchasing Cyan and Transmode.
Michael Howard, senior research director and advisor of carrier networks at IHS, told FierceTelecom in an e-mail that Juniper needed to make an acquisition gain a foothold into the optical market with a set of capabilities that complement its routing and switching portfolio.
"Juniper has considered an optical play, homegrown or acquisition or partnership, for at least 10 years if not more," Howard said. "BTI has a nice set of targeted products, with some traction, but not a major player. I think it is good for Juniper to finally get at least this segment (metro, and the important DCI) into their fold. They likely had to finally pull the trigger as Transmode disappeared into Infinera, leaving not many candidates for a right-size-for-Juniper acquisition."
One of the key products that Juniper will get out of this acquisition is BTI's SDN-enabled BTI 7800 Series Intelligent Cloud Connect, a platform that integrates optical switching, MPLS routing features with Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)-based applications.
Juniper will also gain a sizeable customer list.
According to BTI's website, the company had 380 customers, including a mix of data center and telco providers such as Equinix, Frontier, Interxion, Rackspace, and VKontakte.
After meeting customary closing conditions, Juniper expects to close the acquisition in the second quarter.
For more:
- see this blog post
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