Rocket Lab Corporation × Iridium Communications Inc.
Rocket Lab and Iridium announced a definitive agreement for Rocket Lab to acquire Iridium in a cash-and-stock transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $8.0 billion. [33, 39] The deal merges Rocket Lab's launch and satellite manufacturing business with Iridium's established satellite network and recurring service revenue. [39] The transaction was unanimously approved by both boards and is expected to close in mid-2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approval. [33, 39]
The asset
The entire Iridium company, including its operational constellation of approximately 80 LEO satellites, global L-band spectrum licenses, ground infrastructure, and existing subscriber base of over 2.55 million users. [33, 50]
- 2.5M active subscribers
- 66 operational satellites
The record
- Seller status
- Going concern
- Sector
- satellite communications
- Modalities
- satellite communications network, spectrum licenses, subscriber data
- Jurisdiction
- US
What it means if you hold data
This acquisition creates a major vertically integrated space company, combining satellite manufacturing, launch services, and data/connectivity services under one roof to compete with players like SpaceX. [50, 51] It demonstrates a strategy where the ultimate value is in owning the entire data pipeline, from building and launching the assets to operating the network and selling the data services. [47]