Accenture down to buy Downdetector as part of $1.2 billion deal

Accenture is going to get a closer look into how web traffic is moving...or not moving. The company has announced plans to buy Downdetector parent company Ookla from Ziff Davis as part of a package deal with other software for $1.2 billion.

The purchase will enhance the consulting megalith's intelligence and analytics tools, giving it visibility into networks. The deal, which will transfer all of Ziff Davis’s Connectivity division to Accenture, includes Ookla’s Speedtest, Ekahau, and RootMetrics, according to a statement from Accenture.

Accenture said the combined software will help communication service providers, hyperscalers, and enterprises optimize the mission-critical Wi-Fi and 5G networks.

“Modern networks have evolved from simple infrastructure into business-critical platforms,” said Accenture CEO Julie Sweet in a canned statement. “Without the ability to measure performance, organizations cannot optimize experience, revenue, or security.” Ookla is meant to let them do just that.

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