Lumina Networks, founded in 2017 after spinning out of Brocade to create open source SDN controllers based on OpenDaylight, has launched what it calls in a blog posted August 18 “an orderly shut-down of business.” The company said the decision stems from the service providers who were their target customers choosing to acquire SDN controller capabilities from proprietary vendors – usually, the companies from whom they were also buying transport hardware.
The company says it has deployed its controllers in more than a half-dozen networks. “Unfortunately, while many in the telco community applauded our work, and planned deployments, revenue has not followed at the scale required for us to operate and manage a large open source project,” reads the posting, which is unattributed.
The company attracted $10 million in Series A funding from Verizon Ventures, AT&T, and Rahi Systems, it failed to lure venture capitalists, which meant that it was reliant on sales to fully fund its activities. “The switch to open source did not take place at a pace anywhere close to the speed that would enable us to operate and grow our business, despite commitments from many to the contrary,” the company continued. “We have also found that COVID-19 has actually redirected funds away from automation projects and into building out raw infrastructure, further delaying adoption.”
The company also could not find a buyer, which left management few options.
“Fortunately, much of their work at Lumina will live on in open source through the OpenDaylight and the associated projects we have helped shape. Ironically, one of the benefits of open source we promoted – that it would survive us – has turned out prophetic,” the posting concludes.
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