Startups > DriveNets

DriveNets

DriveNets enables telecom operators to build massively scalable networks using software on white-box hardware.

Series C $587M total Founded 2015 Ra'anana, HaMerkaz 348 employees

DriveNets provides a cloud-native, software-based routing platform that disaggregates network software from proprietary hardware, enabling communication service providers to scale from 2.4Tbps to 921Tbps on commodity white-box infrastructure. The company's Network Cloud and Network Cloud-AI products apply cloud architecture principles to telecom networks, reducing costs and increasing flexibility. Already deployed across major tier-1 operators including AT&T (handling 52% of core traffic), Comcast, Vodafone, and Orange, DriveNets is transforming how global networks are built and operated.

Problem solved

Telecom operators are locked into expensive proprietary routers with vendor lock-in, limiting scalability and increasing operational costs while network traffic demands grow exponentially.

Target customer

Tier-1 and tier-2 communication service providers (CSPs), cable MSOs, and large telecom operators with core, aggregation, peering, and edge network infrastructure needs.

Website LinkedIn Crunchbase

Founders

Ido Susan

CEO & Co-Founder

Serial entrepreneur who previously co-founded Intucell (Self Optimizing Network), acquired by Cisco for $475M; held leading role in Cisco's global mobility solutions; started career in IDF intelligence unit.

Hillel Kobrinsky

Co-Founder & CSO

Entrepreneur with 20+ years building companies; founded Interwise (Web Conferencing), acquired by AT&T in 2007; built and managed AT&T's R&D center in Israel; Senior Advisor to Israel's Minister of Finance (2013-2015).

Funding history

Series A $110M February 2019 Led by Bessemer Venture Partners · Pitango Growth, John W. Thompson, Stephen J. Luczo

Series B $208M January 2021 Led by D1 Capital Partners · Bessemer Venture Partners, Pitango Growth, Harel Insurance

Series C $262M August 2022 Led by D2 Investments · Bessemer Venture Partners, D1 Capital Partners, Pitango Growth, Atreides Management, Harel Insurance

Secondary Market $750M 2025 Led by AT&T · Employee and investor secondary share acquisition

Total raised: $587M

Industries

Cloud Data Services Cloud Infrastructure Network Hardware Software

Pricing

Not publicly available. Custom enterprise contracts based on deployment scale, traffic volume, and service requirements.

Notable customers

AT&T, Comcast, KDDI, Turkcell, Telefonica, Vodafone, Orange, DIGI (Romania)

Integrations

White-box hardware from multiple ODMs, Fabric Scheduled Ethernet (FSE), cloud-native microservices and container platforms

Website

drivenets.com/

Competitors

Juniper Networks

Traditional router vendor with proprietary hardware-software bundles; lacks cloud-native disaggregation and white-box flexibility.

Cisco (Routing products)

Established telecom router manufacturer with vendor lock-in; not focused on disaggregated, software-only architecture.

Nokia (Routing solutions)

Traditional network equipment vendor; slower transition to cloud-native, disaggregated models compared to DriveNets' software-first approach.

Arista Networks

Focuses on data center and cloud networking; less emphasis on telecom core/aggregation networks and massive traffic scaling.

Why this matters: DriveNets has achieved rare validation in the conservative telecom industry, with AT&T—the largest U.S. backbone operator—now transporting majority core traffic through their platform and recently acquiring a strategic 15% stake. The company demonstrates that disaggregated, software-defined networking is not just a theory but a production reality for the world's largest operators, representing a fundamental shift in how global telecommunications infrastructure is built.

Best for: Tier-1 and tier-2 telecommunications operators and cable MSOs seeking to disaggregate network infrastructure, reduce costs, and achieve linear scalability without vendor lock-in.

Use cases

Core Network Transformation

Large telecom operators like AT&T migrate their entire core network backbone to DriveNets' Network Cloud, reducing operational complexity and increasing traffic capacity. AT&T now transports over 52% of its core network traffic through DriveNets, demonstrating production-scale reliability and performance.

Aggregation and Peering Networks

Cable MSOs deploy DriveNets clusters at multiple sites for aggregation and peering functions. One major cable operator successfully migrated over 25% of traffic to 14 deployed sites using DriveNets, replacing expensive proprietary equipment with commodity white-box hardware.

AI Infrastructure Networking

Service providers and data center operators use Network Cloud-AI with Fabric Scheduled Ethernet to optimize networking for AI/ML workloads, addressing the explosive growth in GPU cluster connectivity and ensuring predictable, low-latency traffic patterns at scale.

Alternatives

Juniper Networks (MX Series) Traditional proprietary router; higher capex and opex; less flexible scaling; vendor lock-in without software disaggregation.

Cisco (ASR 9000 Series) Established but hardware-tied; limited white-box flexibility; higher costs and longer deployment cycles compared to DriveNets' cloud-native approach.

Nokia (NCS 5500 Series) Traditional routing platform; slower adoption of disaggregated, software-first architecture; less focus on cloud-native operations.

FAQ

What does DriveNets do? +

DriveNets provides software-based routing and networking solutions that run on commodity white-box hardware instead of proprietary routers. Its Network Cloud and Network Cloud-AI platforms apply cloud architecture principles to telecom networks, enabling operators to scale from 2.4Tbps to 921Tbps while reducing costs and increasing operational flexibility.

How much does DriveNets cost? +

Pricing is not publicly available. DriveNets works with enterprise customers on custom contracts based on deployment scale, traffic volume, and service requirements. Contact sales for specific quotes.

What are alternatives to DriveNets? +

Alternatives include Juniper Networks (MX Series), Cisco (ASR 9000), and Nokia (NCS 5500). However, these are traditional proprietary routing platforms without the same level of disaggregation, white-box flexibility, and cloud-native architecture that DriveNets offers.

Who uses DriveNets? +

Tier-1 and tier-2 communication service providers, cable MSOs, and large telecom operators. Notable customers include AT&T (transporting 52% of core network traffic), Comcast, KDDI, Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica, Turkcell, and DIGI.

How does DriveNets compare to traditional router vendors like Cisco? +

DriveNets disaggregates software from hardware, running on commodity white-box equipment, while Cisco and other traditional vendors bundle proprietary software with proprietary hardware. This gives DriveNets customers greater flexibility, lower capex/opex, and avoiding vendor lock-in. DriveNets' cloud-native architecture also enables faster scaling and operational agility.