Consolidation has returned to the maritime communications sector with a long-standing service provider swallowing up a smaller rival
Greek maritime satellite communications provider Navarino Group has acquired 100% of the shares of Dutch competitor Castor Marine to increase its market share and enter new sectors.
Both are thriving businesses with strong growth trajectories, which provide satellite communications through technologies including very small aperture terminals (VSAT), low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and long-term evolution (LTE) 4G and 5G cellular networks.
They offer tailor-made technology and connectivity solutions to hundreds of ships in various sectors within the industry. Castor Marine will continue to operate independently within the Navarino Group.
Key benefits of the deal include an expanded service portfolio, enhanced global presence and accelerated innovation, driving forward the digital transformation of the maritime industry.
“Castor Marine enables us to deliver even greater value to our customers,” said Navarino chief executive Dimitris Tsikopoulos. “Together, we can offer enhanced services and exceed the high standards our customers have come to expect of us.”
Navarino provides connectivity to more than 12,000 merchant vessels globally, owned by over 600 shipping companies.
Castor Marine chief executive Ivo Veldkamp welcomed the acquisition. “This milestone unlocks new possibilities for our people and amplifies our offering,” he said.
Both Navarino and Castor Marine offer a global VSAT network, SpaceX’s Starlink LEO, connection to coastal 4G/5G LTE from various operators and 24/7 support.
This is the latest acquisition in the maritime communications space, as the sector tackles the challenges and technical advances from the introduction of Starlink and other LEO constellations, such as Eutelsat OneWeb.
In the past two years, major mergers and acquisitions in the satellite industry include Viasat’s purchase of Inmarsat and the proposed merger of SES and Intelsat.
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