Nokia Acquires Deepfield For Network Insights

The Finnish networking giant Nokia has purchased US IP network analytics specialist Deepfield, in order to help its clients gain more control over their network performance, efficiency and security.

Deepfield specialises in providing cloud, application and IP network insight in real time|, and its tech is used by SDN (software defined network) controllers to make automated changes to networks, so they can rapidly adapt to changes in application demand, flow and traffic patterns.

Financial terms of the deal were not revealed, but Nokia says the acquisition will extend its “leadership in real-time, analytics-driven network and service automation”.

IP Networking

Nokia points out that service providers often have very limited insight into which applications are running on their networks, and what impact this traffic is having on their networks and subscribers.

But it says that Deepfield’s unique Internet Genome technology solves the visibility problem, as it can identify over 30 000 popular cloud applications and services. It can also track how this traffic runs to and through networks to reach subscribers.

This allows service providers to gain a much deeper insight into their network and allows for much more advanced IP network engineering and assurance to be undertaken.

Nokia said it will couple Deepfield big data analytics with the dynamic control capabilities of open SDN platforms, such as the Nokia Network Services Platform (NSP) and Nuage Networks Virtualized Services Platform (VSP).

“We are impressed with Deepfield’s unique approach to network analytics and their deployments with major providers around the globe, delivering critical visibility into how leading cloud applications and services flow through their networks,” explained Basil Alwan, president of Nokia’s IP/Optical Networks business group.

“Combining Deepfield’s cutting-edge analytics with Software Defined Networking techniques (SDN) will allow our customers to automate engineering and assurance processes while enhancing performance, utilisation and security,” he added. “We believe this capability will only increase in importance as networks and applications become more complex, diverse and dynamic.”

There is no word on any job losses among the 65 Deepfield staff, or indeed whether Deepfield will retain a US presence (its headquarters are in Ann Arbor, Michigan).

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of next year, subject to regulatory approval.

Previous Acquisition

“We are very pleased to join Nokia, a like-minded global leader in IP networking with shared values in network innovation,” said Craig Labovitz, founder and CEO of Deepfield. “I look forward to leveraging the strength of Nokia’s world-class customer, sales and support footprint to take our Deepfield technology worldwide.”

“This will also give us a solid foundation from which to accelerate the creation of new value – both in the Deepfield portfolio, and in joint areas such as telemetry and automation.”

In October Nokia achieved a record transmission rate of 65Tbps on a submarine cable, and claimed the development would help increase the capacity of transoceanic networks and help meet ever growing demand for consumer and business services.

It also should be remembered that Nokia is not adverse to acquisitions. Last year for example Nokia acquired Alcatel-Lucent for a cool £11.2 billion.

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