Ruckus Networks revealed AV-optimized additions to its network switch portfolio.

The vendor’s Pro AV ICX comes preconfigured out of the box and are designed to support the growing industry movement away from legacy video transport solutions toward Ethernet-based systems.

In addition to the switch debut, Ruckus also added AV updates to its management platforms, like Ruckus One and SmartZone.

Bart Giordano, SVP and president at Ruckus, said the updates “go beyond the ordinary” to make AV networking easier to deploy.

AV networking, or audio-visual over IP, sees audio and visual data packetized and transmitted using standard fiber optic cables instead of having to run separate specialized cables.

Industry shifts have seen demand for existing network infrastructure to be capable of supporting AV needs. Ruckus’s update sees it try to position its new optimized switches to help meet that need for simple installation and scale.

In addition to switch updates, Ruckus also announced partnerships with AV solutions provider Crestron and joined the SDVoE Alliance to further position itself within the AV-over-IP ecosystem. The nonprofit SDVoE Alliance looks to bring together vendors to standardize the adoption of Ethernet to transport AV signals.

“Our partnership with Ruckus Networks is built on rigorous testing of their switches with DM NVX to ensure our mutual end clients experience the best in video and audio distribution paired with one of the industry’s leading switch manufacturers,” Bob Bavolacco, strategic partnerships director at Crestron, noted.

Ruckus’s efforts come as it finds itself the subject of a potential acquisition by Extreme Networks.

A January report suggested Extreme was looking at a $1 billion acquisition from Ruckus’s parent company Vistance Networks (formerly CommScope). The proposed deal would then allow Vistance to solely focus on access network solutions, having already sold its connectivity and cable solutions (CCS) segment to Amphenol.