RUCKUS Networks (formerly known as Ruckus Wireless) is a brand of wired and wireless networking equipment and software owned by CommScope. Ruckus offers Switches, Wi-Fi access points, CBRS access points, Controllers, Management systems, Cloud management, AAA/BYOD software, AI and ML analytics software, location software and IoT controller software products to mobile carriers, broadband service providers, and corporate enterprises. As a company, Ruckus invented and has patented wireless voice, video, and data technology, such as adaptive antenna arrays that extend signal range, increase data rates, and avoid interference, providing distribution of delay-sensitive content over standard 802.11 Wi-Fi.
RUCKUS began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012, and was delisted in 2016, after it was acquired by Brocade Communications Systems for approximately $1.5 billion on May 27, 2016. Ruckus Wireless and Brocade ICX line of Switching products were acquired by Arris International for $800 million in a deal finalized on December 1, 2017. The company was renamed as Ruckus Networks, an ARRIS company from Ruckus Wireless. On April 4, 2019, CommScope completed its acquisition of Arris, which included the recently acquired Ruckus.
History
Origin, Incubation and Funding
RUCKUS Networks started in 2002 as an incubator project with name SCEOS (Sequoia Capital Entertainment Operating System) funded by a small seed round from Sequoia Capital, in Menlo Park, California. After incubation Ruckus was incorporated in June 2004 as Video54 Technologies Inc., by William Kish and Victor Shtrom. Sequoia Capital, WK Technology Fund, and Sutter Hill Ventures initially funded the company. Selina Lo was the first CEO of the company and continued until company's acquisition by Brocade Communications in 2016.
At its initial days, RUCKUS focuses on In-Home IPTV content distribution over wireless. In 2007, Ruckus introduced a miniaturised wireless multimedia adapter, the MediaFlex USB Dongle, designed to provide wireless connectivity to in-home multimedia devices such as set-tops and media center systems. At 2007 CES event, Ruckus demonstrated the dongle with Motorola set top box VIP1720.
On September 19, 2005, Ruckus announced that it has secured $9 million in its second round of financing, which increases total investment in the company to over $14 million since its formation in June 2004. Sutter Hill Ventures and Investor Growth Capital, the venture capital arm of Investor AB of Sweden, led the new financing. Existing investors Sequoia Capital and WK Technology Fund completed the oversubscribed round. WK Technology Fund led the $3.5 million first round of financing, while Sequoia Capital and private investors provided the initial $1.5 million of seed money. Ruckus Wireless has also appointed Wen Ko, founding managing director of WK Technology Fund, to its board of directors. In addition to Mr. Ko, the Ruckus board of directors includes Dominic Orr, chairman and former CEO of Alteon WebSystems and later Aruba Networks, Selina Lo, president and CEO, Gaurav Garg, former founder of Redback Networks and partner at Sequoia Capital, and Bill Kish, CTO and co-founder of Ruckus Wireless.
Company Growth
On January, 2005, RUCKUS announced that company signed a worldwide agreement to license its BeamFlex technology to NETGEAR for RangeMax product line.
In April 2008, Ruckus introduced ZoneDirector 3000 - An enterprise WLAN controller, FlexMaster - A remote centralized Wi-Fi management system and SmartMesh on its 802.11n access point. In 2008 Ruckus shifted focus on Enterprise, Carrier SP, Education and Hospitality verticals with ZoneDirector controllers which is built on technology acquired from Airspider. In 2009, Ruckus entered into Metro-Wi-Fi with outdoor mesh system.
Dispute
In 2008, RUCKUS sued Netgear, along with its new MIMO antenna supplier Rayspan, for patent infringement, over the antenna designs and associated software that have replaced the Beamflex technology which Netgear used to buy from Ruckus. Netgear licensed BeamFlex adaptive antenna to use in its RangeMax 824 v1 and v2 wireless routers. For RangeMax 824 v3 routers, Netgear used Rayspan made antennas which violated patents by Ruckus.