Iridium, a satellite communications service provider, has been acquired by space company Rocket Lab for 1.3 trillion yen, becoming a competitor to SpaceX.
Rocket Lab, a space development venture known for its small rocket 'Electron,' has announced that it will acquire Iridium Communications (Iridium), a long-established provider of satellite communications services. Rocket Lab stated, 'We will become a strong challenger in the global communications market.'
Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium in Historic Deal, Creating A Fully Vertically Integrated Space Powerhouse Primed for Growth | Mon, 06/29/2026 - 07:00
Rocket Lab is buying Iridium's satellite network for $8 billion to take on SpaceX | The Verge
Rocket Lab is a venture company that develops small rockets and has a track record of launching small satellites for observation and other purposes at a lower cost than other companies. In 2017, they successfully launched a rocket whose main components were made using a 3D printer.
Private rocket company 'Rocket Lab' successfully conducts launch test of a small, lightweight rocket with an engine printed using a 3D printer - GIGAZINE
Iridium is a company that provides communications services to more than 2.5 million subscribers worldwide, using a constellation of 66 low-Earth orbit satellites and the L-band frequency range to connect ships, aircraft, and other remote locations. KDDI also provides services in Japan. The following article shows what Iridium products were like in 2012.
We actually tried using the satellite phone 'Iridium Extreme' in a mountainous area where 3G coverage is unavailable - GIGAZINE
On June 29, 2026, Rocket Lab announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Iridium. Rocket Lab will acquire all of Iridium's outstanding shares for $54 per share (approximately 8,800 yen). This will bring Iridium's enterprise value to an estimated $8 billion (approximately 1.3 trillion yen).
This agreement will allow Rocket Lab to expand into a wide range of space industry fields, including its own satellite IoT, device-to-device communication, positioning, navigation, time synchronization, and critical life safety services.
Rocket Lab stated, 'This acquisition will be one of the most groundbreaking deals in the space industry and will give us a leading role in the American space economy. By combining Rocket Lab's launch capabilities and satellite manufacturing technology with Iridium's satellite communications network and a strong ecosystem of more than 500 partners, we will create a vertically integrated space company that designs, builds, launches, and operates its own satellites, providing critical communication capabilities to millions of users around the world.'
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