Communications test and measurement provider JDS Uniphase Corp. (JDSU) is buying part of rival Agilent Technologies Inc. (A), including the unit with the LTE network verification and deployment products.
The deal is valued at $165 million in cash and should be closed by June.
Agilent said it thinks its network solutions business will be better handled by a company that focuses just on communications network testing. The division reported $162 million in annual revenue as of Oct. 31, 2009.
And because more than 50 wireless service providers plan to deploy 4G services using the LTE protocol, JDSU now considers itself to be the new market leader in test instruments and systems. JDSU will offer service assurance, protocol analyzers and wireless drive tests, among other products.
JDSU’s shares closed up more than 5 percent at $8.68. Agilent’s stock closed higher as well at $29.36, up .38 percent.
