Huawei snaps up SDN software assets from Ireland's Amartus
Chinese networking firm Huawei has acquired software assets from Irish software defined networking vendor Amartus.
Amartus' main product is its Chameleon SDS, an orchestration product for telecoms providers, which allows them to virtualise their networking equipment, automate the delivery of network services, and shift to the cloud.
Huawei has not disclosed the terms of the deal but said that Amartus will retain the rights to service existing customers, with the Irish software developer focusing on delivering software and integration services to telecoms companies and other businesses.
Huawei announced the deal on Amartus' site, noting that it was acquiring Amartus' software assets to boost its own lineup of SDN products and give it multi-vendor capabilities.
The Chinese networking firm's Ireland operations will also take on some staff from the Amartus product group.
"The expertise and talented staff from Amartus product group who will be joining Huawei will help deliver our commitment to produce and develop innovative and high quality cloud and network services," Zha Jun, Huawei's president of fixed network products, said.
Michael Kearns, the CEO of Amartus, said: "We are excited to be able to bring this innovative technology to Huawei at a time when the telecom's industry is experiencing unprecedented change, driven by software".
Huawei said the deal is part of its strategy to boost research and development investment in Ireland and Europe.
Facing blockades in the US over security concerns, Europe has emerged as a key market for Huawei, which announced last year plans to expand its workforce in Europe by 5,500 and double its research and development team to 1,700 in three years.
The company boosted its European presence again last year by acquiring UK firm Neul for a reported $25m, giving it a new research and development base in Cambridge that focuses on the Internet of Things.
In March the UK's oversight board for the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre said the company's equipment was not a risk to national security. Its UK customers include Vodafone, EE, O2, Talk Talk, Virgin Media, and Sky.
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