IBM has inked a deal to acquire file transfer technology firm Aspera.

The computer giant said the acquisition would provide it with “new and complementary capabilities to better enable companies to move big data, on premise or in the cloud, at global distances with the speed required by today’s business”. 

Aspera’s clients include Netflix, PBS and Universal Studios.

The company received an Emmy award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development for its Fasp protocol, which was described as “an industry game changer” used by “virtually all the major broadcast television networks, Hollywood studios and CG and animation houses.” 

Aspera president and co-founder Michelle Munson (pictured) said: “By tapping into IBM’s innovative capabilities and global resources we will solve ever expanding data movement challenges for our customers now and in the future.” 

IBM said it had invested more than $16 billion in over 30 analytics acquisitions over the last five years.

“Our experience working with thousands of clients on big data projects tells us that companies can better compete and win when they can quickly extract value from massive volumes of data,” said IBM vice president B2B and commerce solutions John Mesberg,

“With this acquisition, IBM addresses a key challenge for globally integrated enterprises by allowing them to move large data files much faster to the individuals who need them, wherever in the world they may be.”   

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.

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