Juniper Networks has arranged to acquire Mist Systems, a provider of cloud-managed wireless network solutions powered by artificial intelligence, for $405 million. Juniper Networks plans to use the acquisition to fill wireless gaps in its enterprise networking portfolio through the addition of Mist’s WLAN platform.
Mist’s AI-driven wireless platform is designed to enhance the reliability of Wi-Fi networks. The company has also developed an AI-driven virtual assistant to simplify wireless troubleshooting.
The company also uses virtual Bluetooth low energy technology, combined with Wi-Fi and IoT connectivity, to provide location-based wireless services to customers, including indoor wayfinding, proximity notifications, traffic analytics and asset tracking.
Juniper Networks CEO Rami Rahim said he expects the acquisition to enhance the company’s presence in the cloud-managed segment of the wireless networking market, and to allow it to expand AI-driven network management capabilities across the end-to-end enterprise network.
“Mist Systems is a great fit for Juniper and for our enterprise customers,” explained Rami Rahim, CEO of Juniper Networks,” he said.
“Juniper and Mist share a common strategic goal. We believe in the Software-Defined Enterprise and Mist’s focus on bringing AI to IT is consistent with our core belief that we need to simplify operations and improve customer experience while lowering costs.”
The acquisition still requires regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of the second quarter.