Somera Communications adds E9-1-1 implementation capability with acquisition of Compass Telecom

Oct 15, 2002 12:00 PM, Don Bishop

Somera Communications, Santa Barbara, Calif., has acquired Compass Telecom in a transaction worth $20 million. Atlanta-based Compass provides outsourced services to support telecom operators’ need to efficiently optimize their networks and equipment. Somera sells new and or used equipment and also offers outsource services.

Compass Telecom provides turnkey deployment for network build-outs, systems upgrades and customized project implementations for TDMA, CDMA and GSM platforms, primarily in the wireless sector.

With this acquisition, Somera can now offer program and project management; redeployment planning for fixed network, wireless, microwave and equipment engineering and E9-1-1 implementations; inventory management; installation and integration service for site acquisition and land use, construction management, multi-product integration, installation and de-installation services.

“Efficient management of equipment assets has become increasingly important given today’s capital constrained environment. We see a clear trend toward outsourcing this activity among network operators, as well as manufacturers, as they focus on their respective internal resources on core competencies,” said Rick Darnaby, Somera’s chief executive.

“With this acquisition, Somera is better positioned to provide a complete solution to address this growing need. Our equipment supply and equipment disposition capabilities, combined with our expanding deployment services capabilities put us in a good position to help our customers optimize their infrastructure equipment assets,” Darnaby said.

Matt Prather, a spokesperson for Compass Telecom, added, “Somera and Compass share a commitment to providing greater value and executional superiority in supporting our customers’ need to optimize their equipment assets and networks in a efficient manner. There are tremendous synergies between our respective companies which combined, should strengthen our abilities to deliver a more comprehensive solution to the marketplace.”

The Compass acquisition is expected to enhance Somera’s three categories of service:

equipment optimization for redeployment planning, inventory management, and asset valuation, management and liquidation
equipment installation and integration for installation and de-installation and multiple-product integration
equipment quality enhancement for customization, refurbishing and repair

In the quarter ended June 30, Somera reported net income of $985,000 on sales of $49.2 million.