Satellite players combine to bolster 5G NTN

Cobham Satcom is folding one of its divisions into Gatehouse Satcom in a deal aimed at strengthening 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) services for commercial, government, defence and direct-to-device markets. Cobham Satcom will hold a majority stake and treat the new entity as a subsidiary, though CEO Christophe Duret openly calls it an acquisition. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the transaction still needs regulatory approval.

The combined business will pair Cobham Satcom’s RAN platforms and ground infrastructure with Gatehouse Satcom’s 5G NTN software expertise. Led by current Gatehouse CEO Kenney Schmidt Christiansen, the company plans to keep existing products while advancing 3GPP-compatible 5G NTN software already tested on LEO, MEO and GEO satellite systems, and to expand into next-generation 5G/6G NTN solutions for maritime, defence, IoT, enterprise and D2D customers worldwide.