Accenture Acquires Downdetector and Speedtest for $1.2 Billion

Accenture has announced its acquisition of the free online platforms Downdetector and Speedtest from Ziff Davis for $1.2 billion. The deal, as reported earlier by Reuters, brings the consulting and IT services provider a suite of tools that allow users to quickly check internet speeds or detect outages on various websites. According to Accenture CEO Julie Sweet, the company plans to utilize Ookla’s products to gather data that will aid clients in scaling artificial intelligence (AI) applications safely across business and government sectors. Ziff Davis, which also owns CNET, IGN, and Eurogamer, acquired Ookla in 2014. The acquisition marks a significant expansion of Accenture’s portfolio as it looks to leverage the tools for AI-powered solutions.