Global consulting giant Accenture has agreed to buy the entire Connectivity division of Ziff Davis in a $1.2 billion all-cash deal.
The acquisition includes well-known platforms like Ookla’s Speedtest, Downdetector, Ekahau, and RootMetrics. The deal was announced on March 3, 2026, and is expected to close in the coming months, pending regulatory approval.
Until the deal is finalized, Ziff Davis will continue to run the platforms as normal. That means users around the world, including in Bangladesh, should not see any immediate changes to Speedtest or Downdetector.
Ookla is the biggest name in the division. Ziff Davis bought it back in 2014 for just $15 million. In 2025 alone, the Connectivity division generated $230.7 million in revenue and $76.1 million in net income. The sale marks a huge return on investment for Ziff Davis. The division accounts for about 16 percent of the company’s total revenue.
For Accenture, the move strengthens its network intelligence services. The company plans to use Ookla’s massive database of billions of speed tests, along with real-time outage data from Downdetector, Wi-Fi tools from Ekahau, and mobile benchmarking from RootMetrics. Accenture says this will help telecom operators, cloud providers, and enterprises improve 5G, Wi-Fi, and digital infrastructure using AI-driven insights.
Everyday users are unlikely to notice major differences after the deal closes. The platforms are expected to remain free and accessible. However, Accenture could expand advanced analytics and premium tools for businesses and internet service providers.
Ziff Davis, meanwhile, is continuing to streamline its business. It plans to focus more on its core digital media brands after selling off other assets in recent years. Following the announcement, Ziff Davis shares surged sharply in early trading, adding significant market value.
For countries like Bangladesh, where internet speed and outages are frequent talking points, the long-term impact could mean better network insights and smarter infrastructure planning. For now, users can keep testing their speeds as usual.
