Juniper sets sights on Akeena Networks

Networking vendor to acquire media software vendor to help strengthen its position in video-over-internet market

Juniper wants to improve end user experiences of watching video content over the internet

Juniper Networks is to acquire media software vendor Ankeena Networks to help cement its position in the video-over-internet market.

The vendor announced that it has entered into a "definite agreement" to acquire Akeena as part of a deal it said would have an "immaterial" impact on its financial performance.

Ankeena specialises in technology that allows end users to enjoy online video content with fewer interruptions by altering the way it is delivered according to the user’s available bandwidth.

The networking giant said it intends to integrate Ankeena’s offerings into its portfolio to address the “rising demand for rich media content” online.

Rajan Raghavan, chief executive at Ankeena Networks, said: “The combination of Juniper’s high-performance networking products with Ankeena’s highly scalable media delivery engine will result in solutions that accelerate the pace of innovation for online delivery of all content types.”

Manoj Leelanivas, executive vice president and general manager at Juniper Networks, said the acquisition reflects the vendor’s commitment to providing end users with a “TV-like user experience” when viewing online videos.

He added: “The combination of Ankeena’s new media infrastructure solution with Juniper’s high-performance networking platforms will enable the company to meet the bandwidth and cost of delivery challenges facing service providers.”