Ixia to Acquire Catapult Communications

Ixia has signed an agreement to acquire Catapult Communications for $9.25 per share in cash. The deal is valued at approximately $105 million. It’s expected to close in the third quarter.

Ixia made the deal to acquire Catapult's 3G and 4G wireless networking test solutions, which the company says are an excellent complement to Ixia's line of IP performance test systems and service verification platforms. With this acquisition, Ixia will be able to provide a single source solution for testing converged multiplay IP services over wireless and wireline networks to new and existing customers, specifically telecom equipment manufacturers and global service providers.

Meantime, Ixia has announced a major step forward in IP testing with its Acceleron-NP load module. The company says its patent-pending NP technology provides an unmatched level of layer 7 test emulation. The scale and power available with the Acceleron-NP technology allows network equipment manufacturers to completely test their products with next generation capacity and functionality. Acceleron-NP load modules and Ixia XM12 chassis will be used to demonstrate the performance of Brocade's ServerIron ADX Series Application Delivery Controller in Brocade's booth at Interop Las Vegas from May 19-21.