Colubris Networks acquires Wi-Fi company

Colubris Networks joined last week's telecom merger-fest by acquiring Kiwi Networks, a supplier of advanced cellular technologies for next-generation Wi-Fi and WiMax deployment. The deal strengthens its portfolio of Wi-Fi and WiMax-based wireless local area network solutions.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Colubris expects to leverage the cellular Wi-Fi technologies and automated radio frequency planning and control products of Kiwi for its enterprise and service provider customers. WLAN systems incorporating Kiwi's technology are expected to ship in the fourth quarter of the year.

"We acquired Kiwi Networks for its world-class development team, advanced technology and patent portfolio," Barry Fougere, president and chief executive of Colubris Networks, said in a statement. "The problem Kiwi has focused on - enabling unlicensed spectrum to behave deterministically under load - will become increasingly critical over the next several years as Wi-Fi becomes pervasive in enterprise and carrier networks."

Kiwi's headquarters will become Colubris West Coast sales and development office. Shimon Scherzer, Kiwi's cofounder, president and chief executive of Kiwi Networks will lead the engineering team in Colubris' West Coast office.

Acquisitions of companies with technology capabilities suited for Wi-Fi and WiMax are rising as those standards gain momentum.

On Tuesday,broadband wireless systems provider Airspan Networks Inc. agreed to acquire ArelNet, a supplier of VoIP network infrastructure equipment, in a move to develop carrier-grade voice telephony solutions that meet the WiMax standard.

Earlier this week, Juniper Networks acquired session border controller startup Kagoor Networks.

- Spencer Chin

EE Times