In what is clearly an Internet of Things-related play, Intel Corp. today revealed plans to buy broadband access and home networking semiconductor company Lantiq for an undisclosed sum. The deal is expected to close within about 90 days.
The chip giant in its announcement today noted the important role of intelligent access networks and smart gateways in Intel’s move to make everything smart and connected. Intel said it expects to combine the Lantiq technology with its existing cable gateway solutions to help consumers, global service providers, and OEMs enjoy the benefits of the smart home.
Recent IoT-related activities by Lantiq include its October announcement that it has integrated the ULE Alliance’s HAN FUN protocol into its xRX 200/300 Gateway System-on-Chip products. HAN FUN allows application and device developers to manage the operation of home automation systems using DECT ULE wireless network technology.
Lantiq was also the founder of the HomeGrid Forum, whose mission is to promote advanced wired home networking technology. And it was an early member of the Home Gateway Initiative, which major broadband service providers founded in 2004 to shape the way IP-based services are delivered to the home.
This deal follows a long line of other IoT-related acquisitions in the industry. For example, ABRY recently bought and combined M2M service providers KORE Telematics and Raco Wireless. PTC recently bought Axeda, following its acquisition of another M2M platform provider, Thingworx. And component company Telit has transformed itself into a more broad-based IoT solutions provider by bringing application enablement platform provider ILS Technology, Motorola’s module group, and MVNO Crossbridge Solutions in the fold.
While Intel’s planned acquisition of Lantiq doesn’t fit as cleanly into the IoT category as these other deal, it nonetheless can be viewed as an IoT deal.
Homaira Akbari, president and CEO of private equity advisory services firm AKnowledge Partners, last week at the IoT Evolution Conference said we could expect to see more mergers and acquisitions that might not at first glance be recognized as IoT deals. She gave as an example Google’s 2014 purchase of high-resolution imaging satellite company Skybox Imaging.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
