Apax Partners Acquires Telenor Satellite Services and Integrates the Company into Vizada – A New Market Leader in Global Satellite Communications Services

Vizada maintains continuity of services for customers, bundles the strengths of two industry leaders – Telenor Satellite Services and the former France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications

Apax Partners France today announced that it has successfully completed its acquisition of Telenor Satellite Services and is incorporating the company into the new Vizada brand.

Apax now combines the resources of two industry veterans – the former Telenor Satellite Services (TSS) and the former France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications (FTMSC) under the Vizada brand – maintaining continuity of service for existing customers while creating a new market leader in the global satellite communications industry. FTMSC was rebranded Vizada in June 2007.
Vizada provides customized and off-the-shelf communication solutions, an extensive global distribution network and several decades of satellite experience.

Instantly becoming a market leader in the global satellite communications industry, Vizada serves customers through a worldwide network of more than 400 distribution partners. It is one of the world’s largest providers of two-way satellite communications services, with annual revenues of US$586M.

Vizada offers both mobile and fixed satellite communications services from multiple satellite systems such as Eutelsat, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Iridium, Loral, New Skies, SES Americom, and Thuraya, among others.
Going forward, Vizada’s services will be organized into two lines of business, each providing customers with the most appropriate and cost-effective communications solutions: Mobile Satellite Services (MSS), offering standardized communications solutions, and Fixed Satellite Solutions (FSS), selling VSAT (very small aperture terminals) and integrated hybrid networks.

“Vizada combines the resources of talented employees, superior technology and global infrastructure to provide the best satellite communications solutions, service and support to each Vizada reseller and end-user, now and well into the future,” said Vizada Group CEO and Chairman Michael Collins.
Vizada’s MSS business works closely with a network of more than 400 reseller partners to distribute communications via mainly the Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya satellite systems. Its offerings combine off-the-shelf services with a complete range of value-added tools and applications to match perfectly the requirements of its varied customer base.
Vizada’s business strategy incorporates a global network of active distributors coupled with dynamic customer partnerships. This strategy is designed to empower partners to deliver innovative, accessible and reliable satellite communications solutions to their local markets.

Vizada is also one of the world’s largest providers of broadband fixed satellite solutions for maritime and land-based customers. Using a variety of global and regional satellite network operators, Vizada has the experience and expertise to custom design VSAT and integrated hybrid networks for large corporate, public and intergovernmental organizations with multiple remote sites. Vizada is the leading provider of managed maritime VSAT solutions that extend corporate IT functions to commercial shipping, cruise and ferry companies as well as super yachts. Vizada also offers an innovative mix of value-added services extending the capabilities of its fixed communications portfolio.
The new company operates globally with subsidiaries located in Europe and the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Pacific. It operates teleport facilities in the Czech Republic, France, Norway, Slovakia and the United States, connecting satellite systems with terrestrial networks for seamless communications.

About Vizada:
Vizada, owned by Apax Partners France, is a leading global satellite communications provider offering total communications solutions to customers including maritime fleets, emergency response teams, government and military units, news gathering organizations, natural resource exploration companies, enterprise businesses, airlines and more. The business also has an extensive international network of more than 400 distribution partners and operating globally through subsidiaries in Europe and the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Pacific. Vizada’s teleports and communications facilities, located in the Czech Republic, France, Norway, Slovakia and the United States, connect satellite systems with terrestrial networks for seamless communications.

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