Accenture Buys Analytics Firm Ookla

Consulting and business services giant Accenture has agreed to acquire Seattle-headquartered Ookla, which offers network intelligence, competitive benchmarking and customer experience analytics. Ookla was founded in 2006 and is currently a division of publisher Ziff Davis, Inc.

Ookla employs some 430 people with a focus on software engineering, radio frequency engineering and data science. Data from more than 250 million consumer-initiated tests per month is combined with controlled drive, walk and embedded testing options to deliver analysis of quality of service (QoS), radio frequency (RF) signal data, and quality of experience (QoE) insights.

The deal will see Ookla's data products, including Speedtest, Downdetector, Ekahau and RootMetrics, integrated into Accenture's services to help Communications Service Providers (CSPs) enhance their benchmarking and capital planning through real-time data, predictive simulations and AI-driven insights; and hyperscalers and other enterprises optimize their key Wi-Fi and 5G networks. The firm says data from the network, device and application layers is a core component of fraud prevention in banking, smart home analytics in utilities, and traffic optimization in retail.

'Modern networks have evolved from simple infrastructure into business-critical platforms,' says Accenture Chair and CEO Julie Sweet. 'Without the ability to measure performance, organizations cannot optimize experience, revenue, or security. By acquiring Ookla, we will help our clients across business and government scale AI safely and build the trusted data foundations they need to deliver the reliable, seamless connectivity that creates value.'

According to Ookla CEO Stephen Bye (pictured), joining Accenture will allow the firm to scale its network data business across the world's largest enterprises and 'accelerate its goal of creating better connected experiences.' He adds: 'Together, we will redefine how the world measures, understands and experiences connectivity.'

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Terms were not disclosed. Web site: www.accenture.com .