This concludes the regulatory approval process for the milestone $3.1 billion (€2.8 billion) acquisition.
SES S.A., a leading satellite and connectivity solutions provider based in Luxembourg, has secured all final regulatory approvals for its $3.1 billion acquisition of Intelsat, a global satellite services company headquartered in the United States. The deal, initially announced in April 2024, has now cleared all required competition and foreign investment reviews in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States and European Union, paving the way for its anticipated closing in the third quarter of 2025.
This acquisition marks a major consolidation in the satellite communications industry, bringing together two of the largest players in the global market. SES and Intelsat have long operated as rivals, offering similar services in satellite broadcasting, mobility, government, and data connectivity. The merger aims to combine SES’s strong presence in Europe and Africa with Intelsat’s established market in North America and other regions, thereby expanding the combined company’s global footprint and service capabilities.
SES plans to integrate Intelsat’s geostationary satellite assets and service offerings with its own multi-orbit fleet, which includes both geostationary and medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites. This integrated infrastructure is expected to enhance service quality, improve efficiency, and offer more robust solutions to enterprise, government, and mobility customers across the globe. SES has emphasized that the acquisition will create synergies worth approximately $200 million annually within a few years after closing, primarily from network integration, operational streamlining, and improved customer offerings.
The $3.1 billion transaction is being financed through a mix of cash on hand and new debt. SES stated that the deal is fully funded and that the company remains committed to maintaining its investment-grade credit rating post-acquisition.
Industry analysts view the acquisition as a strategic move to better position SES in an increasingly competitive market, especially with the rise of non-traditional players like SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. By joining forces, SES and Intelsat aim to scale up their operations, strengthen their resilience against emerging competitors, and accelerate innovation in satellite-based connectivity services.
With the regulatory hurdles now cleared, the final steps will focus on completing operational and financial integration, with SES expecting the deal to officially close in the coming months.
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