SpeedCast International Limited (“SpeedCast”), a leading global satellite communications service provider, today announced the acquisition of Geolink Satellite Services, a leading provider of satellite communications solutions in the African region, and part of the CETel Group. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition will strengthen SpeedCast’s fast growing services for the energy and maritime sectors, enhance its portfolio of mobile satellite solutions, and bolster its capabilities in the African region.
Geolink Satellite Services (“Geolink”) is a leading provider of satellite solutions in the African market and has strong positions in the maritime industry. The company services customer requirements in over 20 African countries, with key customers in the oil & gas, mining, media, NGO and maritime sectors. Geolink specializes in mobile satellite solutions, as well as fixed VSAT solutions, in the increasingly important African market. The company also has experience providing services to the media industry in Europe. Geolink is based in Paris, France and works with a network of technical partners throughout Africa, in addition to the company's own field engineering team, for the support of its solutions.
“With the Geolink acquisition, SpeedCast expands its presence and its capabilities in the African market,” said Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO of SpeedCast. “Geolink uniquely complements SpeedCast’s business with great strength in mobile satellite services, extensive experience in and satellite coverage over Africa, and strong customer base in the energy and maritime sectors. There are interesting synergies between the two companies, which will further enhance our ability to deliver complete end-to-end solutions to our respective customers globally.”With this acquisition, SpeedCast significantly enhances its capabilities to serve and support its customers in the African market, a key area of operations for the energy sector. The acquisition will benefit SpeedCast’s existing customer base, as SpeedCast is experiencing a growing number of requests for services in Africa from its Asia-Pacific customers. Further, the African continent continues to be a growth spot for VSAT services and therefore represents a new potential source of growth for SpeedCast. Last but not least the Geolink acquisition adds to SpeedCast's growing leadership in providing services to the maritime sector.
Joining SpeedCast, Geolink will now be able to offer its customers a wider portfolio of products and services and better serve its customers’ needs worldwide. SpeedCast will partner with Geolink’s experienced management team and staff to continue to deliver best-in-class services to Geolink’s customers, while enhancing SpeedCast’s own expertise. Geolink will further complement and extend SpeedCast’s global network in the strategic African market.
“We look forward to joining SpeedCast, a leader in satellite communications services,” said Christophe Pacilly, CEO of Geolink. “With SpeedCast’s experience and infrastructure, we believe that Geolink will have the opportunity to drive further growth and even better meet the needs of our customers in the oil & gas, maritime, NGO, media and government verticals.” Geolink's management team will remain with the SpeedCast group.
The acquisition follows SpeedCast’s successful acquisitions of two established satellite industry players, SatComms Australia and Oceanic Broadband, in the Australasia region in the past 12 months.
