A $1.2 Billion Speed Test: Why Accenture Just Bet the Future of AI on Ookla

Accenture, the preeminent global purveyor of IT consulting and services, recently heralded its acquisition of Ookla for a staggering $1.2 billion at the Mobile World Congress convened in Barcelona. Prior to this transaction, Ookla operated under the aegis of the American digital media and internet conglomerate, Ziff Davis, Inc.

While the moniker “Ookla” may elude common recognition, its flagship creation, SpeedTest.net, is undoubtedly familiar to many. Reigning as the world’s most frequented network diagnostic platform, it orchestrates a formidable 250 million broadband speed assessments monthly. Downdetector, the ubiquitous portal for reporting platform outages, likewise resides within Ookla’s portfolio. Accenture’s willingness to proffer $1.2 billion constitutes an exceptionally lucrative triumph for Ziff Davis, Inc., particularly considering their initial acquisition of Ookla in 2014 commanded a mere $15 million.

It is altogether noteworthy that Ookla’s intrinsic enterprise remains remarkably robust, having generated a formidable $231 million in revenue throughout 2025. This fiscal achievement constituted a substantial 16% of Ziff Davis, Inc.’s overarching annual revenue, ensuring the parent company reaped handsome dividends throughout its tenure of ownership. Accenture’s rationale for committing such a premium is firmly grounded:

“Modern networks have evolved from simple infrastructure into business-critical platforms,” said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture. “Without the ability to measure performance, organizations cannot optimize experience, revenue, or security. By acquiring Ookla, we will help our clients across business and government scale AI safely and build the trusted data foundations they need to deliver the reliable, seamless connectivity that creates value.”

In its capacity as a premier IT consultancy, Accenture endows its patrons with exhaustive advisory services, meticulously architecting a bedrock of trusted data to navigate the complexities of digital metamorphosis. Consequently, this transaction will substantially fortify Accenture’s competitive vanguard within the managed services domain, with a pronounced emphasis on the refinement of 5G and Wi-Fi networks.

The consummation of this acquisition is anticipated within the forthcoming months. During this interim period, Ookla shall remain under the operational stewardship of Ziff Davis. At present, Ookla boasts a formidable cohort of 430 professionals, dedicating their expertise to the intricate disciplines of software engineering, radio frequency engineering, and the vanguard of data science.