News Analysis

Iridium Acquires Satelles

March 4, 2024 - Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM),  today announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Satelles, a provider of  highly secure satellite-based time and location services that complement and protect GPS and other GNSS-reliant systems.This acquisition continues Iridium’s philosophy of investing in differentiating technologies uniquely suited to its network that significantly outperform competing solutions according to the company.

Better Satellite World: Bringing Oil Smuggling Out of the Shadows

New York City, March 1, 2024--In 2017, North Korea shocked the world by launching tests of two ballistic missiles able to cross the Pacific and strike the US.  One just missed hitting a commercial passenger flight headed for Tokyo.

It Ain't Standard Oil...It's the New Standards by Lou Zacharilla

by Lou Zacharilla

New York City, March 1, 2024--In 1910 the Supreme Court of the United States found Standard Oil Company of New Jersey guilty of monopolizing the petroleum industry through a series of abusive and anticompetitive actions. The Court's remedy was to divide Standard Oil into several geographically separate and eventually even competing firms. Reacting to the size and scale of this unfavorable ruling to the company he had founded, the head of the greatest business monopoly in history, John D. Rockefeller, allegedly said, “I expected it, but did not think it would be so BIG!”

What Can We Expect from Satellite Industry in 2024?

by Bogdan Gogulan,  Managing Director of NewSpace Capital

Luxembourg City, March 1, 2024--Readers of this magazine will know that behind (or rather, above) many areas of modern life is satellite technology. 5G phone networks. Location tracking. Precision farming. Disaster prevention and response. Without satellites, next to none of this could exist or exist at the level of sophistication we enjoy now. The technology is so deeply integrated into modern life that if all the world’s satellites were to vanish tomorrow, we would be in serious trouble. And it’s why, despite the volatility of the past few years, the industry has continued to expand. In 2024, we can expect another big year.

Terran Orbital Announces Agreement with Shareholder Group

Boca Raton, Fla., February 5, 2024 – Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP) a provider of satellite-based solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the investor group comprised of Sophis Investments LLC, Sophis GP LLC, Tassos Recachinas, Roark’s Drift, LLC, Joseph Roos, Jordi Puig-Suari, Roland Coelho and Austin Williams.

Slam and Lynk Global Announce Definitive Business Combination Agreement

New York, NY, February 5, 2024–Satellite-direct-to-standard-phone provider Lynk Global, Inc.and Slam Corp. (NASDAQ: SLAM), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement  under which Slam will combine with Lynk. Upon completion, the combined company will operate as Lynk Global Holdings, Inc. and its common stock is expected to be publicly listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LYNK”.

Hardware to Software:The Ground Segment Evolution

by Robert Bell

New York City, February 1, 2024--Innovations taking place in the satellite sector continue to reshape the satellite services market. First it was HTS massively expanding the supply of bandwidth and reducing the cost per bit. Then it was LEO broadband, which made dynamic software-based management critical to connectivity. 

Eutelsat Completes OneWeb’s 50% share in the Airbus OneWeb Satellites

Paris, France, January 29, 2024 - Eutelsat Group (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) has completed the sale of OneWeb’s 50% share in the Airbus OneWeb Satellites joint venture.

Comtech Announces $45 Million Strategic Investment and Exchange of Convertible Preferred Stock

Melville, N.Y., January 22, 2024—Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL), a leading global technology company providing terrestrial and wireless network solutions, next-generation 911 emergency services, satellite and space communications technologies, and cloud native capabilities, today announced a US$ 45.0 million investment by current shareholders White Hat Capital Partners LP, an investment firm focused on sustainable value creation in technology companies serving mission-critical applications, and funds affiliated with Magnetar, a leading alternative investment manager with over US$14 billion of assets under management. In connection with the investment, the Company exchanged all outstanding shares of Comtech’s existing convertible preferred stock for a new series of convertible preferred stock.