Aria Networks, the leading-edge Chippenham-based tech firm, is planning to strengthen its lead in the fast-growing Software Defined Networking (SDN) market after securing further investment.
The firm, whose customers include major US and European telecoms companies, cloud and datacentre operators, and social network providers, is already ahead of its SDN rivals. Its products, developed from artificial intelligence platforms, enable its customers to plan, manage and control their networks more effectively, raising profits and making upgrades easier. 
The latest investment round – the value of which has not been announced – was led by London-based venture fund Seraphim Capital and includes current and new investors.
Seraphim invested £2m in Aria in 2008, three years after it was founded, and led a further £2m investment in 2013.
Aria has also appointed Steve Newton as chief executive officer following 12 months in an executive role at the company. He brings more than 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications sector and was part of a management team built Cambridge-based billing software specialist Geneva Technology from product launch through rapid growth to its $700m (£464m) sale in 2001 to US giant Convergys.
Seraphim Capital managing director Mark Boggett said: “There is a huge addressable market for migratory applications such as those provided by Aria Networks to network operators and cloud providers, as evidenced by AT&T’s recent announcement that they plan to extend SDN network coverage to 75% by 2020.
“Aria Networks enables service providers to benefit from virtualisation and network automation today and build a path to a fully Self Optimised Network in the future.”
Steve Newton added: “Aria Networks is already working with many of the largest internet companies in the world. As user demand for data continues to grow exponentially, the software solutions provided by Aria Networks become ever more relevant to internet service providers, network and cloud operators. I am delighted to lead the company into a new era where our applications and software defined network services will enable Aria to rapidly scale.”
Previous CEO Tony Fallows is leaving Aria Networks to pursue a new opportunity.
A number of Aria’s management team previously worked for other Bath area tech firms including chief operations officer Douglas Gracie, who was at telecoms industry pioneer Cramer, and head of software development John Crickett, who worked at railway control equipment firm Westinghouse Signals and specialist software firm SciSys, both based in Chippenham.
Non-executive director David Rice-Jones was chief financial officer at Cramer where he led negotiations for its £248m sale to US giant Amdocs in 2006.
Chief technology officer Dr Jay Perrett, the key architect of Aria’s products, was a founder and head of research and development at Darwinian Neural Networks Industries and the CEO of Applied Insilico, both also based in Chippenham.
