Imagine this: you're trying to figure out why your internet is acting up, or you're curious if a popular website is experiencing issues. Well, behind the scenes, a billion-dollar deal has just been struck, and it might just change the game for these handy tools. The internet speed-testing and website monitoring giants, Speedtest and Downdetector, have been sold for over a billion dollars!
Ziff Davis, the company behind these beloved services, announced on Tuesday that it's selling its Connectivity division, which includes these two powerhouses, to Accenture, a global technology consulting giant. The deal is worth a whopping $1.2 billion in cash, and it's a move that has many in the industry talking.
But here's where it gets controversial: Ziff Davis is using this sale to focus on its core brands, like IGN, Mashable, and Everyday Health. Some might argue that this is a smart business move, but others are concerned about the potential impact on these beloved platforms. After all, Ziff Davis recently laid off experienced editors from Eurogamer and reduced VG247 to a small gaming guides site. So, is this a sign of things to come for Speedtest and Downdetector?
Ziff Davis acquired Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, for a mere $15 million back in 2014. And boy, did that investment pay off! The division thrived during the 5G rollout and the pandemic-driven surge in bandwidth demand, generating an impressive $231 million in 2025 alone.
Accenture, headquartered in Dublin, sees this acquisition as a crucial step towards building "end-to-end network intelligence services essential for AI-based transformation." (Translation: they want to use these tools to enhance their AI capabilities and provide better services to their clients.)
The deal is expected to take a few months to finalize, so Ziff Davis will continue to operate Speedtest and Downdetector in the meantime. But the question remains: what does this mean for the future of these services? Will they remain the same, or will Accenture's influence bring about some changes? And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about the tools themselves, but also the data they collect. With Speedtest and Downdetector, Accenture gains access to a wealth of information about internet connectivity and performance. So, what do you think? Is this a win-win situation, or are there potential pitfalls we should be aware of? Let's discuss in the comments!
