Mobile satellite communications business Inmarsat Solutions has bought out Norwegian company Ship Equip International for $159.5 million (£99.2 million).

Mobile satellite communications business Inmarsat Solutions has bought out Norwegian company Ship Equip International for $159.5 million (£99.2 million).

Ship Equip provides ‘very small aperture terminals’ (VSAT), a maritime communication antenna that enables users to gain access to satellites in order to relay data from earth stations to other terminals.

According to Inmarsat, Ship Equip will operate as a separate company alongside its subsidiaries Stratos and Segovia.

James Parm, president and CEO of remote communications business Stratos, sees Ship Equip as being ‘ideally positioned’ to support the growth of Inmarsat’s existing offerings.

He adds: ‘This acquisition demonstrates our clear determination to prepare the way for a fast and successful take up of Ka-band services via Inmarsat Global Xpress.’

Ka-band refers to the frequency that communication satellites use to transmit.

Ivar Nesset, CEO of Ship Equip comments, ‘We are convinced the combination will be the perfect platform for reaching the next level in satellite broadband maritime services.’