Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) and L3 Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LLL) have agreed to combine in an all stock merger of equals to create a global defense technology leader, focused on developing differentiated and mission critical solutions for customers around the world. Under the terms of the merger agreement, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, L3 shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 1.30 shares of Harris common stock for each share of L3 common stock, consistent with the 60-trading day average exchange ratio of the two companies.

In partnership with Africa’s leading accelerators and innovation hubs, the AHUB program is designed to highlight the critical role of entrepreneurship in fuelling Africa’s digital economy and connect African tech start-ups and scale-ups to investors and corporate partners.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] is investing in Accion Systems Inc., a Boston, Mass.,-based startup pioneering scalable electric propulsion technology to transform satellite capabilities in and beyond Earth's orbit.

Accion's new Tiled Ionic Liquid Electrospray (TILE) in-space propulsion system aims to increase the lifespan and maneuverability of satellites and other vehicles in space. Leveraging a non-toxic, ionic liquid propellant and postage stamp-size thrusters, the TILE system is smaller, lighter and more cost-effective than traditional ion engines.

NEP Group, a worldwide outsourced technical production partner supporting premier content producers of live sports and entertainment, announced today its acquisition of SIS LIVE Limited, a leading provider of connectivity services and a subsidiary of UK-based Sports Information Services (SIS).

The Satellite Interference Reduction Group today announced it is expanding its reach to encompass all types of innovation within the satellite communications industry. As part of that expansion, it has changed its name to Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG). SIG was officially launched today during Satellite Technology Asia in Singapore. The event is being co-hosted with Intelligence-Sec.

In response to accelerated growth of its U.S. and Canadian customer base, Riedel Communications has appointed Endi A. Maricevic as service manager for North America. Based in Riedel's Burbank, California, office, Maricevic is providing dedicated customer support as well as managing Riedel's service operations.

SATConsult, a member of the Euroconsult Group, has announced the appointment of David Chégnion as managing director. In this capacity, David will succeed Mustapha Elriz who founded the company in 2006 and has served as its CEO since this date.

Mobile backhaul and base station networking have long been an important business for satellite and teleport operators. It is humbling, then, to also acknowledge that satellites carried less than 1.4% of global mobile traffic in 2016, according to NSR.

The key themes emerging from the three major conferences held in Europe this September, (World Satellite Business Week, IBC and VSAT Global and Next Generation Satellite Applications), were: change, innovation and flexibility.  Change is all around. Change for manufacturers as demand shifts from Geostationary Orbit (GEO) to Non Geostationary Orbit (NGSO). Change in the structure of the industry. Lockheed is tracking 975 new space startups. Change in the manufacturing process. Satellites are getting bigger, and smaller.