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

Accenture Ookla Acquisition Targets AI-Driven Network Intelligence

Global consulting firm Accenture has entered into an agreement to acquire Ookla, the Seattle-based network intelligence company behind Speedtest and Downdetector, in a $1.2 billion cash transaction1

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. The deal, announced on March 3, 2026, involves purchasing the connectivity division from Ziff Davis, which has owned Ookla since 20141

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. For Accenture, the acquisition represents a strategic move to embed real-time connectivity data into its enterprise services as AI adoption accelerates across industries.

The connectivity unit generated $231 million in revenue in 2025, accounting for roughly 16 percent of Ziff Davis' total revenue1

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. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the coming months, during which Ziff Davis will continue operating the business1

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. For Ziff Davis, the sale marks a strategic narrowing of focus around its media and digital publishing businesses, including outlets such as IGN, Mashable, and CNET1

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Network Intelligence Platforms Process 250 Million Tests Monthly

Ookla operates a portfolio of widely used network measurement platforms that track internet performance and connectivity quality worldwide. 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 experience2

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. Its best-known product, Speedtest, allows users to measure internet bandwidth and latency, while Downdetector monitors service outages across digital platforms1

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The portfolio also includes RootMetrics, which measures mobile network performance, and Ekahau, software used to design and troubleshoot Wi-Fi networks1

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. Together these platforms generate a vast dataset on global internet performance that telecom operators, cloud providers, and infrastructure operators use to benchmark network performance, diagnose connectivity issues, and evaluate infrastructure upgrades1

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. Founded in 2006, Ookla employs approximately 430 specialists in software engineering, radio frequency engineering, and data science2

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Scaling of AI Systems Drives Demand for Connectivity Data

Accenture's interest lies in combining this real-time connectivity intelligence with its enterprise consulting and AI deployment services. 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 applications1

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. "Modern networks have evolved from simple infrastructure into business-critical platforms," said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of 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"2

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Network data now creates significant value across all sectors beyond telecommunications. As AI adoption accelerates, insights captured at the network, device, and application layers become essential to enhance fraud prevention in banking, smart home analytics in utilities, and traffic optimization in retail2

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. Ookla's platform, which captures more than 1,000 attributes per test, provides the foundation for these insights3

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AI Infrastructure Resilience and Customer Experience Analytics

By integrating Ookla's data products, Accenture will help Communications Service Providers, hyperscalers, and enterprises optimize the mission-critical Wi-Fi and 5G networks that power their digital infrastructure3

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. For Communications Service Providers, the combined capabilities are expected to support autonomous network operations, real-time benchmarking through competitive analysis, and predictive capital planning2

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. Hyperscalers and cloud providers stand to benefit from enhanced AI infrastructure resilience at edge data centers that handle inference workloads2

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Enterprises will gain advanced tools for designing and troubleshooting mission-critical private networks, particularly through Ekahau's specialized hardware and software2

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. Manish Sharma, chief strategy and services officer at Accenture, emphasized that "with the Ookla portfolio, we will offer end-to-end network intelligence services essential for AI-based transformation. 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"2

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Strategic Positioning in Cloud Engineering and Digital Transformation

The deal arrives at a moment when digital infrastructure is becoming tightly intertwined with enterprise AI systems deployed across cloud environments, data centers, and edge infrastructure1

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. Connectivity performance increasingly determines application reliability and user experience as companies modernize their technology stacks1

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. Accenture has been expanding its capabilities in data, AI, and cloud engineering through a long series of acquisitions, completing dozens of deals across AI, cybersecurity, and digital engineering services in recent years1

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Ookla's datasets offer something many consulting firms lack: global real-time measurements of network performance across millions of devices and connections1

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. In a world where enterprise software increasingly depends on distributed infrastructure, such data becomes valuable not only for telecom operators but also for cloud hyperscalers and large enterprises1

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. Stephen Bye, CEO of Ookla, stated that "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"2

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