ADVA Optical Networking Acquires Overture, Strengthens NFV Offering for CSPs

Considerably strengthening its NFV offering capability for the global CSP community, ADVA Optical Networking has acquired US based Overture. The acquisition is a key step for ADVA Optical Networking and further expands its cloud access solution portfolio.

As a result of this acquisition, the company can now offer communication service providers (CSPs) a complete network functions virtualization (NFV) architecture that includes programmable hardware, comprehensive software and end-to-end orchestration solutions.

This is critical for CSPs as they continue to develop flexible cloud access infrastructures that can rapidly respond to new business demands. Together, ADVA Optical Networking and Overture will help to define the virtualized networking landscape and provide CSPs with a clear migration path to NFV-enabled networks.

The acquisition also significantly increases the company’s North American footprint, including the associated customer base.

“Our acquisition of Overture is a defining moment in the cloud access market. We’re building something remarkable here,” said Brian Protiva, CEO, ADVA Optical Networking. “Firstly, we’re creating a number one player in Ethernet access devices. There’s a full account and product synergy between our companies, ensuring a complete solution set for business Ethernet, mobile backhaul and carrier wholesale applications that can be sold into each other’s customer base. Secondly, we have a shared vision for the future of the cloud services market and the virtualized network. Adding Overture’s NFV-pure-play and orchestration solutions to our hybrid NFV solutions, operators can select what best fits their plans. And last but not least, we’re creating an incredible team. Overture has great people with a wealth of knowledge. With one united company, we’re going to help CSPs take a huge leap forward. There can be no question that exciting times are ahead.”

ADVA Optical Networking’s acquisition of Overture brings together two of the industry’s largest manufacturers of Carrier Ethernet (CE) access equipment. Not only does this provide CSPs with an incredible wealth of CE engineering knowledge, it also provides them with a comprehensive product set. The acquisition completes the ADVA FSP 150 product family with an Ethernet-over-Copper solution, a programmable white-box network interface device (NID), a virtualized NID and an end-to-end orchestration solution. This means ADVA Optical Networking can now deliver CE-based cloud services in a hybrid or NFV-pure-play environment – something nobody else in the industry can offer. It’s this combination of CE and NFV that will be critical for the future, especially in regards to the creation, delivery and assurance of cloud services. CSPs now have a clear choice when choosing a partner to help them define, structure and build their NFV strategy.

“We’ve watched the team at ADVA Optical Networking closely for many years and what’s always impressed us is their commitment. Their commitment to their customers and to each other,” commented Mike Aquino, CEO, Overture. “We knew when they first approached us that this would be a good fit. We share many of the same values. What most excites us about this acquisition though, is how our combined teams will move forward, especially in regards to NFV. What we’re creating here is a team more capable than any other in the industry, focused purely on helping CSPs successfully migrate to NFV-based networks. Make no mistake, we’re at the first stage of what’s going to be a fun journey.”