IQGeo buys Comsof NV to expand network design capabilities
Geospatial software developer IQGeo (AIM: IQG) says it has purchased Comsof NV, provider of fiber-optic network automated planning and design software, for up to €13 million ($13.21 million) in cash and shares. The combination will enable delivery of an integrated offering that supports planning, design, construction, and maintenance operations in a single platform, IQGeo asserts.
Spun out of Ghent University in 1998, Comsof has offices in Belgium and Canada and serves customers in more than 50 countries. IQGeo says the purchase will improve its ability to capture global market share.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome the Comsof team and technology to the IQGeo family,” said Richard Petti, CEO at IQGeo. “The Comsof fiber-optic planning and design software is highly complementary with IQGeo’s geospatial technology, allowing us to expand the scope and depth of our market share in the telecoms industry. Comsof has a well-established customer base and IQGeo will use the Ghent office to create a European operations hub focused on increasing our market share across the region. I see significant benefits from the unification of IQGeo and Comsof.”
“The Comsof team is excited to join our new colleagues at IQGeo to create a unique network management solution that combines our proven planning and design expertise with IQGeo’s Network Manager system of record software. In addition, the Comsof software will continue to be offered as an independent solution, supporting existing customers and channel partners,” added Raf Meersman, CEO at Comsof, who will join IQGeo’s management team. “We have worked with the IQGeo team over the last few years with great success and the alliance of our two companies and technologies accelerate innovation and competitiveness. We share a commitment to creating world-class software and a success-oriented culture that I’m confident will create tremendous new opportunities for our staff, customers, and partners.”
IQGeo plans to partially fund the acquisition by raising approximately £3.5 million ($3.56 million) from existing and new investors. Comsof will operate “as an IQGeo company” for the foreseeable future.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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