Cisco on Thursday morning announced plans to acquire network traffic-management software maker Cariden Technologies for approximately $141 million in cash.

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Cariden, founded in 2001, makes software to help telecom service providers like Verizon and Deutsche Telecom more efficiently manage their networks. Cariden employees will be integrated into Cisco's service provider networking group unit. The deal is expected to be completed in the second quarter of Cisco's fiscal year 2013.

This is Cisco's third acquisition in two weeks. The San Jose networking giant also announced this month that it will acquire cloud management firm Cloupia for $150 million and .

Cisco said its service provider customers are increasingly converging their Internet Protocol (IP) and optical networks to deal with exploding internet and mobile traffic growth. The addition of Cariden will give carriers more visibility and control over their converged networks, Cisco said.

"The Cariden acquisition reinforces Cisco's commitment to offering service providers the technologies they need to optimize and monetize their networks, and ultimately grow their businesses," Surya Panditi, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's service provider networking group, said in a statement. "Given the widespread convergence of IP and optical networks, Cariden's technology will help carriers more efficiently manage bandwidth, network traffic, and intelligence. This acquisition signals the next phase in Cisco's packet and optical convergence strategy and further strengthens our ability to lead this market transition in networking."

Meanwhile, Cisco's acquisition of Meraki earlier this month is "the smartest action undertaken by Cisco of late."