April 13, 2006 Milpitas, California -- JDSU has announced an agreement to acquire Test-Um Inc., a provider of home networking test instruments for the FTTX and digital cable markets. The acquisition, which creates new sales channels for Test-Um's home networking product portfolio and JDSU's existing set of field test instruments for broadband access networks, is expected to close within this quarter. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Test-Um is based in Camarillo, California and will be integrated into JDSU's communications test and measurement product group. JDSU says that Test-Um and its 30 employees add to JDSU's triple-play test expertise and product portfolio, bringing an extensive set of home-wiring test instruments for the verification, installation, and maintenance of Category 3, Category 5, and coaxial cables used in home and small office networks for the delivery of VoIP, IPTV, and other services. JDSU contends that the ability to conduct "three-wire" home network testing is increasingly important as the number of broadband-connected homes and networked devices grows.
By acquiring Test-Um, JDSU says that it expands its channels for the sale of its instruments for broadband access networks, including its recently introduced SmartClass line of instruments. JDSU expects to leverage Test-Um's network of several hundred distribution partners, making its access test instruments available to the service installation and electrical contractors currently served by Test-Um. In addition, JDSU says the acquisition creates market opportunities for Test-Um's products, which will be made available through JDSU's direct sales and service organization serving global telecommunications and cable service providers.
"The deployment of broadband networks and the widespread availability of affordable broadband Internet access are driving adoption of new video and other advanced communications services for the home," comments John Peeler, executive vice president of JDSU's communications test and measurement group. "With our acquisition of Test-Um, JDSU will add an important set of test instruments to help our customers quickly, efficiently, and reliably deliver the IP-based triple play services consumers are demanding."
Test-Um's "three-wire" test instruments verify the ability of home wiring to support the reliable delivery ofhigh-bandwidth voice, data, and video services throughout a home. The company's instruments include test sets for verifying line conditions and power-signal levels, wireless testers that facilitate communications on the job, tone tracing and identification to locate and track cable runs, and analyzers for more advanced service troubleshooting and certification.