Ericsson beefed up its OSS/BSS capabilities with a deal to acquire U.S.-based MetraTech that the Swedish vendor said extends its billing expertise beyond the telecoms sector.
The vendor said the acquisition will enable it to offer billing systems for markets including transport and utilities while strengthening its capabilities in the fields of Everything as a Service (XaaS) and Internet of Things (IoT). MetraTech provides metadata-based billing, commerce and settlement services that can quickly be adapted for new markets beyond Ericsson's core telecoms billing services, the vendor said.
Ericsson noted the acquisition--which includes all 140 of MetraTech's employees--addresses unique requirements for new XaaS and IoT business models. MetraTech's services will also enable Ericsson customers to quickly create personalised, multi-party, agreements and new value added services, it said.
"For a range of industries, thriving in the Networked Society means having the ability to quickly support new revenue models and shift strategies as fast as customer and partner needs evolve," explained Per Borgklint, senior vice president and head of business unit support solutions at Ericsson, adding: "MetraTech's metadata-based billing solutions strengthen our extensive OSS and BSS portfolio and billing capabilities across a range of sectors."
Ericsson said the acquisition--which is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2014--will also expand its presence in the U.S.
The vendor separately revealed it has scored a win with NBN Co, Australia's national fibre network operating company. Ericsson has been contracted to deliver fixed wireless and satellite services in regional and rural areas of Australia, in an extension of an existing managed services contract.
In addition to providing fixed wireless and satellite services to 1 million households, Ericsson will also handle the migration of NBN Co's 42,000 interim satellite users to the new service.
Greg Adcock, NBN Co COO, said the extended agreement "will enable greater efficiencies and consistency of network management across both our fixed and satellite ground networks."
For more:
- see Ericsson's MetraTech announcement
- read Ericsson's NBN Co release
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