Viasat buys Inmarsat in $7.3bn broadband and IoT deal

美国卫星运营商在英国购买了Inmarsat的混合空间和地面网络，用于宽带和物联网

UK satellite operator Inmarsat has been bought by Viasat of the US for $7.3bn.

该交易包括8.5亿美元现金，约有4636万股的Viasat普通股，价值31亿美元和34亿美元的净债务。

合并后的公司打算将两家公司的光谱，卫星和地面资产整合到全球高容量的混合空间和地面网络中。这是由Starlink和OneWeb的政府部门在宽带竞争的推动下，由竞争对手Eutelsat的支持。

The combined architecture will create a framework incorporating multi-band, multi-orbit satellites and terrestrial air-to-ground systems for greater density of bandwidth at high demand locations like airport and shipping hubs and lower latency at lower cost than either company could provide alone.

Viasat has North American residential and aviation connectivity and defense communications with technology and business models embraced by customers and has ultra-high-capacity beam forming satellite technology.

Inmarsat has dominated the growing global mobility and government segments and recently announced a low earth orbit multi-dimensional mesh network to work with its narrowband geostationary satellites. It is planning to expand its global network later this year with software-defined commercial communications satellites offering both Ka- and L-band capabilities.

The combined company will have a broad portfolio of spectrum licenses across the Ka-, L- and S-bands and a fleet of 19 satellites in service with an additional 10 spacecraft under construction and planned for launch within the next three years.

包括计划的极地覆盖在内的全球KA波段足迹将支持带宽密集型应用程序，并获得L频段资产的增强，这些应用支持全天候弹性和高度可靠，窄带和IoT连接。

该计划是使用Inmarsat的L波段频谱和现有的空间资产，并具有Viasat的波束成形，最终用户终端和有效载荷技术及其混合动力多轨太空交通网络功能。

“This is a transformative combination that advances our common ambitions to connect the world. The unique fusion of teams, technologies and resources provides the ingredients and scale needed for profitable growth through the creation and delivery of innovative broadband and IoT services in new and existing fast-growing segments and geographies,” said Viasat’s Executive Chairman Mark Dankberg.

“Inmarsat’s dual-band global mobile network, unique L-band resources, skills and capabilities in the UK and excellent technical and operational talent worldwide, are powerful complements to Viasat’s business. Together, we can advance broadband communications and create new hybrid space and terrestrial networks that drive greater performance, coverage, speed, reliability and value for customers. We look forward to welcoming the Inmarsat team into the Viasat family.”

Inmarsat首席执行官Rajeev Suri说：“与Viasat一起是Inmarsat的正确组合。”“ Viasat是一个了不起的创新者，Inmarsat带来了一些强大的补充：全球范围，广泛的分销渠道，强大的商业动力以及在极具吸引力的全球移动范围内的存在。两家公司将共同创建一个具有规模和范围的新全球参与者，以帮助塑造动态和发展中的行业的未来。这种组合将为Inmarsat创造良好的未来，并有充分的位置为世界各地的客户提供更大的选择，为合作伙伴增强的范围以及为员工提供新的机会。工业逻辑令人信服，并确保英国长期在关键空间部门拥有强大而可持续的存在。”

Rick Baldridge, Viasat’s president and CEO added, “This strategic move gives Viasat the scale to increase the pace of innovation that drives new and better services for our customers, broadens the opportunities for our employees and provides a foundation for significant positive free cash flow, with potential upside from a revitalization of L-band and IoT service growth. Plus, we will have expanded scale and presence in the $1.6 trillion broadband and IoT sectors. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and looking forward to setting up the combined organization for long-term success.”

Viasat公司说,它将建立在海事卫星组织我的存在n the UK and is committed to preserving and growing the investment of the combined company, as well as supporting the recently published UK National Space Strategy. Viasat plans to preserve and grow Inmarsat’s London headquarters, as well as its footprint in Australia and Canada and across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Both companies are nearing the end of unusually intensive capital investment cycles within the next 24 to 36 months and expect significant subsequent benefits from converging their respective architectures into a joint, high-performance global network.

www.inmarsat.com;www.viasat.com

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