With mobile data offload emerging as a key tactic for operators dealing with overflowing networks, test vendor Ixia today acquired VeriWave, which specializes in performance testing for Wi-Fi networks and devices. While such capabilities will help it win enterprise business as well, on the carrier side the Wi-Fi testing capabilities — especially with a focus on service performance — will be important for carriers building converged wireless/wireline IP networks.
In a statement, Ixia CEO Atul Bhatnagar pointed to just such requirements as driving the acquisition:
“Equipment manufacturers, enterprises and carriers alike are looking for a full set of end-to-end solutions that completely test converged Wi-Fi, wired and 3G/4G ecosystems — especially for video-savvy applications,” Bhatnagar said.
VeriWave has been focused on manufacturers and enterprises mostly in the past, but Ixia clearly sees carriers as a potential audience for its products as well, noting in particular that VeriWave’s wireless LAN test tools dovetail nicely with Ixia’s more carrier-focused IP and LTE test tools and suites.
Ixia dove head first into wireless testing in 2009 when it acquired Catapult Communications, known for its suite of platforms for testing wireless edge and core networks (Briefing Room: Combined Ixia and Catapult Communication Solution Delivers Large-Scale Wireless Network Testing).
Ixia isn’t alone in buying up wireless test assets to complement a focus on IP/Ethernet testing. For instance, Exfo last year acquired wireless test vendor NetHawk to head down a very similar path (CP: Exfo continuing down 4G radio/IP monitoring path).
The key for vendors in this area is to 1) pick up capabilities to test basic wireless protocols and networks, but then 2) move rapidly from helping operators test basic wireless/IP networks to monitoring the services running over them.