IBM could be looking to sell its software-defined networking (SDN) assets for a reported figure of US$1bn, according to independent tech news website Re/Code.

Within the first few weeks of 2014 IBM unveiled three cloud-based big data services to deliver customers its Watson computing technology.

IBM also announced its $1.2bn cloud expansion and its plan to build an additional 15 international data centers and pitched its SoftLayer cloud to gaming companies Kuuluu and Multiplay.

It was only last week that IBM sold its x86 server unit in a US$2.3bn deal with Lenovo - the deal also included several networking products, switch and other technologies used to enable connections between servers.

IBM is reported to have approached several companies including Dell, HP, Cisco, Juniper and Fujitsu to gauge interest in its SDN business.

It has not yet commented on the rumors circulating around its SDN assests.