Accenture acquires Ookla for $1.2B to power AI-driven network intelligence across enterprises

Accenture buys Speedtest and Downdetector in $1.2B deal

Global consulting and technology services firm Accenture has agreed to acquire Ookla, the Seattle-based network intelligence company best known for Speedtest and Downdetector, in a deal valued at $1.2 billion in cash. The acquisition comes from Ziff Davis, which has owned Ookla since 2014. Accenture plans to integrate Ookla's connectivity data into its enterprise services to help telecom operators, cloud providers, and enterprises optimise networks that support AI and digital infrastructure. Ookla operates a set of widely used network measurement platforms that track internet performance and connectivity quality worldwide. Its best-known product, Speedtest, allows users to measure internet bandwidth and latency, while Downdetector monitors service outages across digital platforms. The company also operates RootMetrics, which measures mobile network performance, and Ekahau, software used to design and troubleshoot Wi-Fi networks. Together these platforms generate a vast dataset on global internet performance. Telecommunications providers, cloud companies, and infrastructure operators use this data to benchmark network performance, diagnose connectivity issues, and evaluate infrastructure upgrades. Accenture's interest lies in combining this real-time connectivity intelligence with its enterprise consulting and AI deployment services. The company argues that as businesses scale AI systems and cloud workloads, network performance becomes a critical layer of the digital stack, especially for 5G and Wi-Fi infrastructure powering modern applications. The acquisition is structured as a $1.2 billion cash transaction for Ziff Davis' connectivity division. The portfolio includes Ookla and related products such as Speedtest, Downdetector, RootMetrics, and Ekahau. The connectivity unit generated $231 million in revenue in 2025, representing roughly 16 percent of Ziff Davis' total revenue. Financial terms beyond the headline price were not disclosed publicly, including the internal valuation breakdown across the individual products. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the coming months. During that period, Ziff Davis will continue to operate the business. For Ziff Davis, the sale represents a strategic narrowing of focus around its media and digital publishing businesses, which include outlets such as IGN, Mashable, and CNET. The deal arrives at a moment when network infrastructure is becoming tightly intertwined with enterprise AI adoption. As companies deploy AI systems across cloud environments, data centres, and edge infrastructure, connectivity performance increasingly determines application reliability and user experience. Accenture has been expanding its capabilities in data, AI, and cloud engineering through a long series of acquisitions. The company completed dozens of deals across AI, cybersecurity, and digital engineering services in recent years as it positions itself as a transformation partner for enterprises modernising their technology stacks. Ookla's datasets offer something many consulting firms lack: global real-time measurements of network performance across millions of devices and connections. In a world where enterprise software increasingly depends on distributed infrastructure, such data becomes valuable not only for telecom providers but also for cloud hyperscalers and large enterprises.

Accenture to Acquire Ookla to Strengthen AI-Driven Network Intelligence Capabilities

Ookla processes over 250 million tests monthly across global connectivity platforms. Accenture has entered into an agreement to acquire Ookla, a global provider of network intelligence and connectivity analytics, in a move aimed at expanding its capabilities in AI-powered infrastructure optimization, according to an official release dated March 3, 2026. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Seattle, Ookla operates a portfolio of connectivity platforms, including Speedtest, Downdetector, Ekahau and RootMetrics. The company's data platform processes more than 250 million consumer-initiated tests each month and captures over 1,000 performance attributes per test, providing granular insights into network quality of service, radio frequency conditions and user experience. "Network data is no longer just a lifeline for the telecoms industry; it now creates significant value across all sectors. As AI scales, the insights captured at the network, device, and application layers are essential to enhance fraud prevention in banking, smart home analytics in utilities, and traffic optimization in retail. Ookla's platform, which captures more than 1,000 attributes per test, provides the foundation for these insights," the official release said. Accenture said integrating Ookla's data products will enhance its ability to support Communications Service Providers (CSPs), hyperscalers and enterprises in optimizing Wi-Fi and 5G networks that underpin critical digital infrastructure. As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates, network-layer insights are increasingly seen as foundational to improving operational resilience, customer experience and security across industries ranging from banking and utilities to retail and cloud services. "Modern networks have evolved from simple infrastructure into business-critical platforms," said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture. "Without the ability to measure performance, organizations cannot optimize experience, revenue, or security. By acquiring Ookla, we will help our clients across business and government scale AI safely and build the trusted data foundations they need to deliver the reliable, seamless connectivity that creates value." For CSPs, the combined capabilities are expected to support autonomous network operations, real-time benchmarking and predictive capital planning. Hyperscalers and cloud providers stand to benefit from enhanced resilience of AI infrastructure and edge data centers that handle inference workloads. Enterprises, meanwhile, will gain advanced tools for designing and troubleshooting mission-critical private 5G and Wi-Fi networks, particularly through Ekahau's specialized hardware and software. "With the Ookla portfolio, we will offer end-to-end network intelligence services essential for AI-based transformation," said Manish Sharma, chief strategy and services officer, Accenture. "Speedtest and RootMetrics define the experience; Downdetector identifies incidents faster; and Ekahau drives digital workplace transformation through superior Wi-Fi. In an era of omni-channel and agentic access, low-latency, zero-friction connectivity is a competitive necessity, and these tools give enterprises the power to build the high-performance environments they need." "Joining Accenture will allow us to scale our premiere network data business across the world's largest enterprises and accelerate our goal of creating better connected experiences," said Stephen Bye, CEO, Ookla. "Our combined capabilities will enable us to more effectively serve CSPs, AI infrastructure providers, edge data centers and enterprise networks. Together, we will redefine how the world measures, understands and experiences connectivity." Founded in 2006, Ookla employs approximately 430 specialists in software engineering, radio frequency engineering and data science. The company operates as a division of Ziff Davis. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Accenture to Acquire Ookla to Strengthen Network Intelligence with Data and AI

Accenture has entered into an agreement to acquire Ookla competitive benchmarking and customer experience analytics. By integrating Ookla's data products, including Speedtest®, Downdetector®, Ekahau®, and RootMetrics®, Accenture will help Communications Service Providers (CSPs), hyperscalers, and enterprises optimize the mission-critical Wi-Fi and 5G networks that power their digital core. Network data is no longer just a lifeline for the telecoms industry; it now creates significant value across all sectors. As AI scales, the insights captured at the network, device, and application layers are essential to enhance fraud prevention in banking, smart home analytics in utilities, and traffic optimization in retail. Ookla's platform, which captures more than 1,000 attributes per test, provides the foundation for these insights.