Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR), a provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, and exactEarth Ltd. (TSX: XCT) announced today that the companies have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement under which Spire will acquire exactEarth for approximately US$161.2 million (CAD$204.2 million) in cash and stock, which implies ~9.1x exactEarth’s Enterprise Value to LTM revenue.

Providence Equity Partners, a  private equity firm that specialises in the media, communications, education, software and services industries, has agreed to acquire a majority shareholding in Marlink from Apax Partners SAS, a European private equity firm based in Paris. The transaction results in an enterprise value for Marlink Group of approximately US$1.4 Billon.

Apax, will retain a significant minority shareholding. Marlink’s management team and world leading investment house Ardian have also committed to minority interests.

ITS Electronics, a provider of satellite communications  equipment for earth stations, mobile, naval and aeronautical applications and TTI Norte, a provider of satellite communications equipment for earth stations and space applications announced today a strategic partnership agreement. The agreement enables ITS Electronics and TTI Norte to access and sell each company’s RF products/services, jointly develop products and provide after sales support for products in EMEA and North America.

At the Satellite 2021 show in Washington, D.C., Satellite Markets and Research Editor-in-Chief Virgil Labrador spoke with Chris Badgett, VP-Technology of Kratos Space.  Click here to view the video.

As with many industries, the satellite industry has not been spared the effects of  the global COVID-19 pandemic which hit the world over a year and a half ago. The pandemic has drastically disrupted supply chains and practically shut down key market segments for satellite such as in-flight connectivity and some key segments of the maritime sector such as  the cruise ship business.  Some key installations and contracts were delayed due to travel restrictions.

Welcome to National Harbor, in-person or virtually!  In my previous column for Satellite Markets & Research I included reference to some details of the SATELLITE 2021 (https://gvf.org/event/satellite-2021/) conference program, an event comprising both digital and in-person content and featuring two panel sessions to be hosted by GVF.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is launching a new NAB

The July-August  2021 issue of  the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine focusing on the Asia-Pacific Satellite Market is now available.  Featuring:

The Asia-Pacific Satellite Market by Omkar Nikam

The Satcom Industry in China: Accelerating to 'China Speed' by Blaine Curcio

Executive Roundtable on Satellites and 5G

"I Think You are on Mute"  by Lou Zacharilla

The Road to National Harbor by Martin Jarrold

PLUS Products and Services Spotlight, Mergers and Acquisitions, Executive Moves, Market Briefs, Vital Statistics, Satellite Markets Stock Index and many more. Click here to read or download the file

The 36th edition of the Space Symposium held at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs from August 23-26, 2021 was the first major industry event to be held live since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Organizers estimated the attendance at between 7-8,000 from 25 countries who came to see a full slate of distinguished speakers in various panels and keynotes and 200 companies exhibiting on the show floor. With the exception of everyone required to wear a mask indoors, the show was much like the shows pre-pandemic with the usual receptions and networking activities.

There is absolutely no doubt that the Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly growing business.  Whether we’re consciously aware of it or not, digital transformation is impacting all aspects of daily life.  Connected devices are becoming pervasive; from refrigerators that let you know when you’re going to run out of milk, to sensors monitoring the moisture content of soil; from self-driving cars, to tags tracking the movement of containers, across oceans and continents.  A recent study from Fortune Business Insights projected that the global IoT market would reach US$ 1,854.76 Billion by 2028