Finance

Arabsat is one of the world’s biggest operators, and a major player in both the Middle East and Africa. However, like most traditional Geostationary Orbit (GEO) operators, it faces decisions on what to do next. The operator has had a strong year, and saw the successful launch of the Arabsat 6A satellite, the last of...

The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) has signed a cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan’s satellite communications operator Azercosmos to jointly provide satellite communications and broadcasting services in Baku, Azerbaijan and surrounding regions. The two partnering operators will utilize satellite assets, including the Azerspace 1, Azerspace 2, as well as RSCC’s Express AM series satellites, to provide...

Satellite networking technologies provider Gilat Satellite Networks named Slava Frayter as its North American regional vice president, the company announced Dec. 2. Frayter previously served as Vice President of the Americas region for Newtec, where he worked for 19 years. During his tenure, Frayter helped develop market strategy for significant expansion in the region. He...

The private equity buyers of Inmarsat refused to bow to shareholder pressure and increase their $3.4 billion bid for the U.K. satellite operator on Monday, just one day before a scheduled court hearing to approve the deal. The buyout consortium, which includes Apax Partners, Warburg Pincus, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Ontario Teachers’ Pension...

Science Applications International (SAIC) claimed it has secured $582 million in space and intelligence contracts in its 2019 third fiscal quarter report. SAIC’s 3Q haul includes two contracts worth a combined $302 million and a $68 million contract from the Zeus program — a follow-on contract for the Innovative GEOINT Application Provider Program (IGAPP). SAIC...

Tom Choi is one of the satellite industry’s strong characters. A previous Via Satellite Executive of the Year when he was the CEO of ABS, he is now the executive chairman of Airspace Internet Exchange, a company that has big ambitions in the satellite sector. Recently, the company made a high profile acquisition, acquiring a...

QinetiQ’s space business formally opened new cleanroom facilities and secured a new three-year contract with the European Space Agency (ESA). The $9.9 million (9 million euros) contract with The European Space Agency (ESA) will see QinetiQ developing a hosting facility and experiment modules, which will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in the...

Comtech Telecommunications entered into an agreement to acquire UHP Networks, a provider of  satellite ground station technology solutions, for a purchase price of approximately $40 million. Founded in 2005, UHP is based in Canada and has developed technology for the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) market. Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech, said,...

T-Mobile CEO John Legere is stepping down. The wireless operator announced that its Board of Directors has named Mike Sievert as CEO, effective May 1, 2020. Currently President, COO and a Board Director, Sievert will assume the CEO role from John Legere after the conclusion of Legere’s contract on April 30, 2020. Sievert’s new title...

BlackSky, a provider of geospatial intelligence, satellite imaging, and global monitoring services, secured a $50 million senior secured loan from Intelsat. The transaction results in an industry first, creating a strategic relationship that pairs Earth Observation (EO) with a global communications infrastructure. The new capital aims to allow BlackSky to augment existing assets and alliances,...