READING, PA — PowerBridge Networks LLC has acquired a networking patent portfolio from Avaya, the company announced earlier this month, marking the launch of a new intellectual property licensing firm led by industry veteran Dr. Donald Bitting.
The portfolio includes more than 500 patents and patent applications spanning roughly 390 patent families, with coverage across U.S. and international markets. The assets focus on enterprise networking technologies.
PowerBridge said it will acquire, manage, and license patent portfolios, allowing companies to monetize non-core intellectual property while focusing on primary business operations.
“PowerBridge aims to bridge the gap between initial discovery and market adoption,” said Bitting, founder and chief executive officer. “Not every inventor or corporate research department has the background, expertise, and connections to license their technology.”
Bitting brings more than 20 years of experience in intellectual property strategy and patent monetization. He previously held roles at Strong Force Innovation Portfolios and IBM, and has worked with organizations including SIM IP, Ofinno, General Electric, LSI Logic, and AT&T Bell Laboratories.
The transaction follows Avaya’s broader shift toward cloud-based services. The company previously divested its Voice over Internet Protocol portfolio in 2024 and has sold portions of its networking business as it refocuses on core operations.
Ed Fish of Tech+IP Finance, which advised Avaya on the transaction, said the sale was part of a competitive process after the assets were deemed non-core.
“PowerBridge ultimately emerged as the successful acquirer, and we were pleased to work closely with Don and his highly experienced team throughout the process,” Fish said.
Several U.S.-based technology companies have already licensed portions of the Avaya networking portfolio, and PowerBridge said it plans to continue licensing efforts across telecommunications, enterprise IT, and related sectors.
The company is organizing the acquired assets into targeted portfolios aligned with networking infrastructure. One such portfolio, called PulseLink Systems, focuses on control-plane intelligence, traffic management, and secure connectivity technologies used in modern network operations.
PowerBridge said the PulseLink portfolio includes assets with roots in Nortel’s networking technologies and will serve as a foundation for expanding into adjacent technology domains.
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