Globetech Buys 60% of Satco to Expand Maritime Connectivity

Key Takeaways

• Globetech has acquired 60% of Satco, adding Norwegian maritime communications and electronics expertise to its portfolio.
• The transaction comes as vessel operators adapt to modernized GMDSS rules, satellite options and technical standards.
• Satco provides Globetech a stronger position across connectivity, compliance support and shipboard IoT integration.

Globetech, a majority-owned subsidiary of Nekkar, has acquired 60% of Satco, a Norwegian maritime communications and electronics business. The transaction expands Globetech’s exposure to a specialized market where satellite connectivity, safety communications and onboard electronics increasingly overlap.

Financial terms beyond the 60% stake were not disclosed. Satco adds maritime communications capabilities to Globetech as shipowners reassess both regulated safety equipment and the broader digital infrastructure installed aboard vessels.

Maritime connectivity is no longer confined to crew internet access or a single satellite terminal mounted above deck. A modern vessel utilizes communications links for operational reporting, remote diagnostics, software updates, route support, equipment monitoring and IoT data collection. Safety services operate alongside those commercial applications, but with stricter requirements around availability, testing and approved equipment.

For Globetech, Satco represents more than added product distribution. The combination supports a broader customer relationship spanning equipment selection, installation, commissioning, maintenance and later upgrades. Those services become increasingly necessary as vessels adopt multiple communication paths rather than relying on one network.

Adding bandwidth does not automatically simplify maritime communications. Operators combine geostationary and non-geostationary satellite services, cellular coverage near shore, and onboard Ethernet networks. Inmarsat, Iridium and Viasat are among the vendors active in maritime satellite connectivity and services adjacent to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, or GMDSS. Each ship requires an architecture suited to its operating area, vessel type and regulatory obligations.

The regulatory backdrop favors providers that understand both communications technology and maritime certification. Modernized GMDSS requirements under the amended SOLAS Chapter IV framework took effect in 2024. As described in Bureau Veritas’ account of the IMO changes, the update removed the requirement for the narrow-band direct-printing function in MF/HF radio installations, among other changes intended to reflect current communications practices.

Equipment compliance remains detailed. The IEC 61097-4:2024 listing published by BSI covers operational, performance and testing requirements for Inmarsat-C ship earth stations and Enhanced Group Call equipment used in GMDSS and Long-Range Identification and Tracking. IEC 61162-450, meanwhile, addresses Ethernet interconnection for maritime navigation and radiocommunication systems.

These standards illustrate why specialized engineering capability remains critical in the global satellite market. Hardware must be selected, installed and integrated correctly, as cabling, antenna placement, power resilience and interfaces with bridge systems all influence real-world performance. Documentation and testing add another layer of complexity to implementation.

Policy changes serve as a near-term catalyst. The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee agreed that maritime safety information should be disseminated through all operational and recognized mobile satellite services by December 31, 2026. That direction broadens the role of recognized satellite services while increasing the need for equipment and support partners capable of navigating transitions without disrupting safety operations.

Commercially, Globetech can utilize Satco’s maritime electronics footprint as an entry point for recurring connectivity and lifecycle services. Satco, in turn, gains access to Globetech and Nekkar resources while retaining the sector knowledge maritime customers expect from specialist suppliers.

Integrating sales, technical support and service delivery without diluting Satco’s specialist focus is the next operational hurdle. Globetech competes in an ecosystem shaped by satellite operators, terminal manufacturers, electronics integrators and local service businesses.

The 60% acquisition gives Globetech control while leaving a minority interest outside its ownership, a structure designed to preserve continuity and maritime expertise. If Globetech connects Satco’s electronics capabilities with managed communications and IoT services, the deal deepens its role aboard connected vessels, shifting focus from single terminal sales to long-term lifecycle management.