IP gateway supplier Genband announced last week that it had acquired NextPoint Networks, a provider of carrier-grade security products, including session border controllers (SBC) and security gateways for fixed-mobile convergence. The acquisition adds security capabilities to Genband's gateway products and "puts the company on an aggressive product development path aimed at the integration of emerging technologies like security, control and packet inspection," according Genband.

The NextPoint transaction is Genband's latest major acquisition following its purchase of Tekelec’s Switching Solutions Group, acquired in April 2007, and Nokia Siemens Networks’ Surpass IP trunking gateway product lines, acquired in April 2008. Genband also has active partnerships with Alcatel Lucent, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel and NEC, supplying them with IP infrastructure components.

In a prepared statement, Charles Vogt, President and CEO of Genband, said: “The acquisition of NextPoint allows us to fulfill the critical security requirements our customers and partners face as they move toward and embrace IP-based technologies in telecommunications networks.”

Joe Mc Garvey, principal analyst for IP Services at Current Analysis, said: “Genband will be able to leverage the NextPoint security and session management expertise to fortify its market-leading collection of media gateways with strategically vital technology, which will only increase in importance as end devices for accessing mobile networks becoming IP data aware.”

Before acquiring NextPoint, Genband offered the “G Series” of gateway products with low-, mid- and high-capacity converged gateways and the “C Series” of gateway controllers. With its latest acquisition, Genband adds the “S Series” of SBCs and security gateways. Last month, Genband sold its M6 Communications Applications server and related customers to Broadsoft.

The NextPoint portfolio additions allow Genband to better “address the needs of fixed, mobile and converged network operators and allow them to embrace emerging IMS migration and Long Term Evolution (LTE) network requirements,” according to the company’s statement. The combined company’s global customer count is also increased to more than 800 service providers in over 80 countries.

Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. Larry Hettick is a principal analyst at Current Analysis.