en.Wedoany.com Reported - Irish private cellular network specialist Druid Software has acquired Munich-based software company Node-H, aiming to simplify enterprise network integration and drive large-scale private cellular adoption. Druid hopes this move will enable more integrators and even telecom companies to sell private networks, fulfilling its promise of industrial transformation.
The addition of Node-H will help Druid reduce the management complexity of core networks and RAN systems. In sectors such as utilities and public safety, demands for security, resilience, and control are driving larger-scale private network deployments. Meanwhile, Druid is collaborating with companies like Skylo to support seamless roaming between private, public, and satellite systems using a common 5G core platform.
Druid founder and CEO Liam Kenny has repeatedly explained that the acquisition of Node-H is a strategic move to more easily pair the core network with "top-tier RAN, whether from Nokia or other vendors." This also relates to the dynamics of another key player in the field, Nokia. Nokia previously announced the sale of its Enterprise Campus Edge (ECE) division, a market-leading core network product that competed with Druid. The sale decision sent shockwaves through the market, but Nokia will continue to provide radio equipment and retain a full suite of solutions, including the core, for large-scale deployments.
Specific financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Druid's headcount will increase from approximately 100 to about 120, and Node-H will be repositioned around Druid's strategy. Druid has maintained an annual growth rate of 30-40% over the past five to six years and operates profitably. The company plans to increase its annual growth rate to 50-60% over the next three to five years.
On the technical front, Druid plans to leverage Node-H's experience in RAN and user equipment (UE) to develop a management interface that allows integrators to easily deploy private networks without specialized cellular knowledge. This software layer aims to simplify private network deployment, making it as manageable as traditional communication systems, thereby expanding the number of channels capable of delivering private networks, including telecom operators as channel partners.
In terms of application prospects, Druid is positioning itself as a converged critical communications platform. The company has the capability to support roaming between private, public, and satellite networks within a common core framework. For example, a police force could have a dedicated private network covering busy locations, roam to public networks outside coverage areas, and fall back to satellite when terrestrial coverage is absent. This three-layer network combination is highly attractive for large-scale deployments such as public safety.
Regarding satellite network access, Druid's flexibility is demonstrated by its willingness to build the necessary integration layers to bring legacy satellite equipment into a modern 5G core environment. This adaptability helps the company win business in emerging non-terrestrial network (NTN) deployments and proves its technology can support deployments far beyond factory scale. Druid already has over 10 million devices on some networks.
Strategically, the acquisition of Node-H will enable Druid to serve more factories, drive larger-scale and simpler deployments, expand channels, and offer more advanced converged solutions.
