Satelles is a company that provides alternative positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, independent of GPS, for enhanced security and resilience. They align with the U.S. National Space Policy, which emphasizes leadership in GNSS and the need for varied PNT sources. Their services cater to government and commercial sectors requiring assured PNT solutions.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Iridium Communications Inc. acquired Satelles Inc. and received complementary timing awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation with T-Mobile.
Iridium Communications acquired Satelles in 2024.
The Satelles acquisition expanded Iridium Communications into satellite-based positioning, navigation, and timing services.
Iridium Communications expanded into satellite-based positioning, navigation, and timing services after acquiring Satelles.
Iridium Communications expanded into satellite-based positioning, navigation, and timing services through its 2024 acquisition of Satelles.
Iridium ramped up its PNT activities after acquiring Satelles last year and integrating its alternative PNT solution into its offerings.
Iridium acquired Satelles last year to integrate its PNT service into its own offerings.
Iridium acquired Satelles, Inc. in April 2024.
Iridium expects the Satelles acquisition to generate over $100,000,000 in annual service revenue by 2030 and anticipates additional revenue from equipment and engineering.
Iridium will pay $115,000,000 to acquire the remaining 80% of Satelles, having previously owned 20% through prior investments.
Iridium expects the acquisition of Satelles to be completed by 2024-04-01.
Iridium will pay about $115 million, net of cash remaining in Satelles, to acquire the remaining approximately 80 percent ownership, financed through a tack-on to its term loan.
Reston, Virginia-based Satelles has been broadcasting timing and location signals since 2016 through a channel Iridium’s satellites in low Earth orbit previously used for paging.
Iridium is spending about $115,000,000 to buy the 80% of Satelles it does not already own, with the deal expected to complete 2024-04-01.
Iridium estimates Satelles service revenue will climb to more than $100,000,000 per year by 2030, in addition to sales from equipment and engineering.
Standardized chips that Iridium plans to enable from 2026 for smartphones to send texts and SOS alerts via its satellites could potentially use Satelles signals for timing synchronization and in-building location services.
On 2024-03-04, Iridium Communications plans to buy out Satelles, which provides a backup for GPS via Iridium’s L-band network.
Satelles began offering a space-based PNT service in 2016 that broadcasts timing and location signals through a channel on Iridium NEXT communications satellites.
Satelles has been providing assured PNT services to back up GNSS since 2016 over Iridium’s satellites in low Earth orbit.
Christina Riley is the Vice President of Commercial PNT at Satelles.