Oracle has announced the acquisition of software provider GoAhead Software. Based in Bellevue, Washington, GoAhead is a manufacturer and supplier of software solutions for network and telecommunications. Oracle expects the transaction to be completed by end of this year. Until the transaction completes, the two companies will continue to operate largely independently.

GoAhead Software currently deploys over 100,000 units of networking equipment to leading providers (NEP).  Top NEPs including Ericsson, Motorola, LG, Oki and Alcatel Lucent have integrated GoAhead telecom solution to provide undisrupted services to customers.

The acquisition will allow Oracle to start using GoAhead’s technology to provide clients with a standardized communication platform for the delivery of telecommunications services.  GoAhead will provide support for the development of the carrier platform, and will also extend Oracle’s footprint in the communication, infrastructure deployment and management services.

“NEPs are moving to a standardized software and hardware platform that can deliver and manage highly available services,” Nigel Ball, vice president of Oracle Communications Industry Solutions, said on the acquisition.

“GoAhead software is the leading commercially available solution that is compliant with Service Availability Forum specifications, the most widely adopted standard for service availability software. The addition of GoAhead technology will help us deliver a comprehensive, standards-based, carrier-grade platform that supports the delivery of new services in the call path of the network.”

Speaking on the partnership, Asif Naseem, president and chief operating officer of GoAhead Software, said “With over 100,000 deployments of GoAhead software by leading NEPs, GoAhead brings significant domain knowledge and engineering strength, coupled with a strong track record of delivering solutions to global network equipment providers.”

Oracle is investing lots of money and time in the hunt for acquisitions this year, focusing more on cloud, big data and infrastructure solutions.  During first half of the year, the company acquired InQuira, Pillar Systems, and FatWire.  In July, Oracle acquired KSpilce, the Linux cloud management service company, to enter the lucrative cloud market and to strengthen its infrastructure products.

And there are rumors that Oracle will broaden its service offering by introducing Hadoop and Big Data technologies, consulting and development offerings.  The announcement would likely come at its annual OpenWorld event, which kicks off in two weeks.