Sasken acquires firm to foray into telecom network management

Sasken Communication Technologies, the Rs 166 crore telecom software company, has acquired Mumbai-based Blue Broadband Technologies.

This is Sasken's first acquisition in the marketplace and will help the company foray into the telecom network management space, offering network planning, deployment, commissioning, integration and network operations support to network equipment vendors and operators. The company did not disclose any financial details of the deal.

In recent days Sasken has engaged in a flurry of activity which may to linked to their plan to come up with an initial public offering later this year.

Blue Broadband is a privately held company and comes into Sasken's fold with a team of 100 professionals, comprehensive infrastructure and existing customer relationships with some of the leading wireless equipment vendors. Sasken will convert this business into a wholly-owned subsidiary, Sasken Network Engineering Limited (SNEL).

Sasken's primary focus is in the embedded telecom software space where it offers a combination of complementary IP software components, research and development consultancy and software services to semiconductor manufacturers, network equipment companies, and global wireless handset developers.

Sasken has another subsidiary in Sasken Network Systems which focusses on application software development for network vendors. The new acquisition is more field focussed, offering network roll-out and management services.

SNEL's synergy with Sasken's domain knowledge in the radio access networks space and intensive R& D capability built over 13 years, enables it to offer a comprehensive basket of engineering services.

A spokesperson for Sasken said: "We work with many leading global network vendors and India is the fastest growing wireless marketplace currently. Many vendors are finding India extremely attractive and they are looking towards us to offer the entire range of services. This is one of the factors which drove us to this acquisition."

Added Rajiv Mody, CEO and chairman, Sasken, "The launch of SNEL positions Sasken as one of the few telecom technology companies worldwide that provide end-to-end services across the wireless lifecycle from chip design, R&D, product development, software design and development to testing and network deployment, integration and post deployment maintenance and support"

He added that SNEL is currently engaged with two of world's top five network equipment manufactures for the expansion of one of India's largest networks, which entails the deployment of more than 14 million subscriber lines.

"SNEL enables its customers to focus on their core competencies by taking over the complex peripheral functions in field engineering and operations support", says Kush Shah, Director, SNEL.

Sasken currently employs 2,000 professionals with development centres in Bangalore and Pune. The company closed last fiscal with a net profit of Rs 18 crore and is, on an average, growing at more than the market rate of 30-35 per cent.