Goonhilly to boost UK's presence in international satellite communication market with agreed US acquisition

14th March 2023

Goonhilly Earth Station, the Cornwall-based satellite and space communications company, has reached a key milestone in its global expansion with the agreed acquisition of two teleports from SD Government.
This acquisition enables Goonhilly to increase its presence in the international satellite communication market - taking the company closer to achieving 24/7 global communication coverage

Goonhilly, which has been the UK’s gateway to space for over 60 years, played a vital role in distributing footage of the Apollo Moon landings to households across the world. Under private ownership since 2014, Goonhilly has continued to make headlines, most recently for its role in NASA’s Artemis mission.

On finalising the purchase of the two COMSAT teleports on the East and West coast of the United States Goonhilly will manage and operate sites in Southbury Connecticut, and Santa Paula, California, increasing the company’s global satellite communications coverage.

Image of Goonhilly's Teleports on a world map

The acquisition will enable customers on both sides of the Atlantic to have access to the expertise for which Goonhilly and COMSAT are recognised.

Upon completion the Goonhilly purchase will move the company one step closer to providing a fully global, 24/7 space and satellite communications network service.

Goonhilly has been providing commercial lunar and deep space communications from its UK-site for clients including ESA, NASA, and iSpace inc. since 2021. The company plans to expand this service - the first of its kind in the world - by developing further, international deep-space antennas that increase the amount of time its clients’ spacecraft are visible on the network as the Earth rotates.

The COMSAT deal comes at a time when Goonhilly is already expanding its services into Australia. Last year, the company confirmed plans to develop a ground station in Western Australia, backed by the ‘UK-Australia Space Bridge’.

Goonhilly CEO, Ian Jones said, “This is very exciting news for us, both at Goonhilly and the COMSAT teleports. All three locations are world-renowned for excellent customer service, providing space and satellite communications to government and industry. Together we are energised to significantly accelerate our growth and reach. This includes both commercial satellite communications and deep space/lunar communications, where Goonhilly is the leading commercial operator.”

Satcom Direct’s President, Chris Moore, said of the transition, “Goonhilly UK is the ideal group to take the teleports to the next level of capabilities as it continues to invest in the infrastructure upgrades that SD has made. The deal allows us to continue innovating our SD hardware, software and connectivity services and Goonhilly to focus on the core business of optimising teleport operations. The augmented infrastructure will strengthen our global mobility network for SD business, government, and military customers, which rely on us for consistent connectivity around the world.”

Goonhilly’s acquisition of COMSAT’s two US teleports will enable the company to expand its market and enhance its reputation as a leading provider of satellite communication services globally.

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Image of Comms Station in Southbury, Connecticut

ABOUT GOONHILLY

For over six decades, Goonhilly Earth Station (Cornwall, UK) has served as the trusted ground station of choice for many of the world’s major satellite operators. Benefitting from resilient large-scale networks and infrastructure, and expert 24/7 support, its diverse range of satellite services include uplink and broadcast, gateway operations, TT&C, carrier monitoring, and more.
In 2021, Goonhilly expanded its services to the Moon and beyond – providing private lunar and deep-space communications links to spacecraft operated by international space agencies and commercial enterprises including ESA, NASA, and iSpace inc., via its UK-based 32m and 30m antennas.

The agreed purchase of the two COMSAT teleports on the East and West coast of the USA will see the world’s first commercial deep-space network go international – increasing global coverage and capacity for lunar and deep-space communications clients.
The deal also serves to optimise LEO, MEO and GEO satellite communication services for customers on both sides of the Atlantic – increasing visibility and reach, as well as providing access to the expertise for which both companies are renowned.

Media Contact:

Jess Ratty

Ha-lo PR

jess@ha-lo.co

+44 7789102402

Visit: https://www.goonhilly.org

Please note:

Goonhilly CEO, Ian Jones, will be at SatShow Washington DC, 14-16 March. To arrange a meeting or interview, please contact Jess Ratty

ABOUT SATCOM DIRECT

Satcom Direct (SD) is founded on a core belief in understanding the value of time and the importance of maximizing it. The company mobilizes the most cutting-edge technologies to enable connection wherever you might be. SD’s proprietary technologies span business aviation and government sectors, with the singular goal of leading connectivity industry standards.

Harnessing a powerful combination of tools, SD delivers consistent, reliable connectivity across the globe. Proprietary software, hardware, terrestrial infrastructure, cybersecurity solutions and award-winning customer support create tailored data services for each individual customer mission. The aim is to enhance the passenger and ownership experience, improve efficiencies and give back precious time by providing connectivity beyond all expectations.

SD World Headquarters is located at the heart of the Space Coast in Melbourne, Florida, with 14 additional locations in 11 countries, including the UK, UAE, Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, and Brazil, plus a hardware development and manufacturing base in Ottawa, Canada.

Media Contact

Satcom Direct

Arena Group

Jane Stanbury
Jane@arenagroupassociates.com

+1 438 998 1668

+44 7803 296 046

For more information regarding SD, visit www.satcomdirect.com

e-mail sales@satcomdirect.com

call U.S. +1.321.777.3000 or UK +44.1252.554.460

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