DZS Acquires Network Orchestration and Software Automation Innovator RIFT

Rhea-AI Summary

DZS (Nasdaq: DZSI) has announced the acquisition of RIFT, a leader in network orchestration and automation solutions. This strategic move enhances DZS's capabilities by integrating the award-winning RIFT.ware software platform into its offerings, enabling seamless deployment of services across various cloud environments. The acquisition also adds development centers in India and Massachusetts, further boosting DZS's operational reach. This initiative aims to accelerate the company’s vision for intelligent network management and expand its portfolio with new cloud-based solutions.

Positive

• Acquisition of RIFT enhances DZS's software capabilities and cloud-enabled solutions.
• Addition of a software development center in Bangalore and operations center in Boston.
• DZS Cloud platform aims to streamline operations, reduce churn, and increase average revenue per user (ARPU).
• Alignment with software-defined networking and cloud-native automation solutions.

Negative

• None.

Launches DZS Cloud to deliver a best-in-class, open, modularized, cloud-native software platform focused on eliminating network service and vendor siloes

PLANO, Texas, March 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DZS (Nasdaq: DZSI), a global leader of intelligent, packet-based mobile transport and broadband access solutions, today announced that it has acquired network orchestration and automation solutions innovator RIFT. The acquisition includes the award-winning, carrier-grade RIFT.ware software platform that simplifies the deployment of any slice, service or application on any cloud. This acquisition builds upon the 20 million mobile and fixed broadband products DZS has deployed in more than 100 countries, providing a powerful platform for the new DZS Cloud portfolio, with end-to-end intelligence for software and network orchestration and automation, advanced data analytics and service management.

“The trend toward cloud and open software solutions is undeniable, and with the acquisition of RIFT, DZS accelerates its vision and strategy to deliver and manage intelligent network and processing functions at the network edge,” said Charlie Vogt, President and CEO of DZS. “With our recent Optelian acquisition, the introduction of our DZS Chronos and DZS Velocity portfolios for broadband access and mobile transport powered by sdNOS (the DZS SDN-enabled Network Operating System), and now the introduction of DZS Cloud, our company is more aligned than ever with software-defined, network virtualization and cloud-native automation solutions. The transaction adds a software development center in Bangalore, India and a product operations center in Boston, Massachusetts. DZS Cloud will enable us to deliver differentiated stand-alone and end-to-end cloud-based solutions designed to increase ARPU, lower churn, streamline operations and optimize service provider and enterprise networks.”

The acquired company will complement and strengthen DZS sdNOS embedded development teams. The DZS Cloud portfolio will enhance DZS mobile transport, broadband access and connected premises solutions by enabling the development and deployment of end-to-end services, networking and applications – including OpenRAN or vRAN VNFs and CNFs, 5G network slicing, FTTx network orchestration, enterprise oriented universal customer premises equipment (uCPE) or SD-WAN solutions. RIFT’s world-class engineering team, based in the U.S. and India, will help accelerate the DZS roadmap for Software-Defined Networking (SDN) control, deployment automation, and scaled machine data management and analytics solutions.

The new DZS Cloud platform, powered by RIFT, is a best-in-breed hyperscale-inspired orchestration platform with an extensive partner ecosystem. DZS Cloud simplifies the lifecycle automation for deployment of any network slice, service, and/or application across public, private, hybrid and edge clouds – enabling global operators to integrate virtual network functions (VNFs) or containerized network functions (CNFs) from any vendor. The platform’s modern cloud-native, modular design embraces web-centric open-source technology and standards, offering contemporary API and plug-in driven flexibility to scale and evolve with the largest global network environments. 

“As the access domain shifts to software, global operators are seeking trusted partners to support their digital transformation journey,” said Noel Charath, Senior Vice President of DZS Cloud Operations. “Charlie’s vision for DZS, the company’s trusted position as a partner of choice behind next generation wireline and wireless networks, and their investments in cloud innovation ensures that the vision we had at RIFT will continue to be advanced and expanded through DZS Cloud. With some of the most innovative and advanced carriers in the world already DZS customers, we expect to find fertile ground among these operators to leverage the DZS Cloud platform to monetize their 5G and fixed network investments with high value enterprise services, private wireless / 5G as a service, Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), and SD-WAN through SDN and NFV automation.”

The RIFT acquisition comes on the heels of DZS recently acquiring Optelian, which closed February 8th, and follows the introduction of sdNOS, a modern SDN-enabled Network Operating System to unify the range of DZS networking products.

“The acquisition of RIFT will at once expand both the software portfolio and cloud-enabled delivery capabilities of DZS, enabling us to fully participate in the new paradigm of software-driven network automation, spanning physical, virtualized, and containerized domains,” said Andrew Bender, DZS CTO. “Our partnership with the RIFT team to date demonstrated the alignment of their vision with our commitment to open networks, customer choice, and a software-centric future for the network. We look forward to having this team in-house at DZS to help unlock the value of our global installed base with the power of intelligent automation, control, and analytics functions.”

To learn more about DZS, visit https://www.dzsi.com

About DZS

DZS Inc. (NSDQ: DZSI) a global leader of intelligent, packet-based mobile transport, broadband access and network orchestration and cloud-native automation solutions. With more than 20 million products in-service and customers and alliance partners spanning more than 100 countries, DZS is helping many of the world’s most advanced and innovative service providers and enterprises leverage the power of 5G, 10gig fixed broadband, and software-defined networks to deliver cutting-edge services and lead in their markets.

DZS, the DZS logo, and all DZS product names are trademarks of DZS Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective holders. Specifications, products, and/or product names are all subject to change.

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect the beliefs and assumptions of the Company’s management as of the date hereof. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. The Company’s actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, those risk factors contained in the Company’s SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including without limitation, the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings.  In addition, additional or unforeseen affects from the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic climate may give rise to or amplify many of these risks. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. DZS undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

For further information see: www.DZSi.com
DZS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dzs_innovation
DZS on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/DZSi/

Press Inquiries:
McKenzie Hurst, Thatcher+Co.
Mobile: +1 408.888.6787
Email: mhurst@thatcherandco.com

FAQ

What is the purpose of DZS's acquisition of RIFT?

DZS's acquisition of RIFT aims to enhance its software platform and capabilities in network orchestration and automation.

How will the acquisition of RIFT impact DZS's product offerings?

The acquisition will expand DZS's portfolio with cloud-native solutions, enhancing service deployment and operational efficiency.

What are the expected benefits of the DZS Cloud platform?

The DZS Cloud platform is expected to lower churn, increase ARPU, and allow global operators to efficiently deploy network services.

When was the RIFT acquisition announced?

The acquisition of RIFT was announced on March 4, 2021.