Wireless satellite coverage provider SatMAX is planning to make strategic investments as it seeks to branch out from its core hand-held satellite voice and data market.
The company is expanding into the aviation sector and plans to follow a vertical…
Wireless satellite coverage provider SatMAX is planning to make strategic investments as it seeks to branch out from its core hand-held satellite voice and data market.
The company is expanding into the aviation sector and plans to follow a vertical market strategy targeting aircraft manufacturers, aircraft maintenance organisations, and avionics equipment manufacturers. To that end, SatMAX stated that it is making strategic investments in support of these three areas as well as seeking to hire or partner with industry participants to develop it vertical strategy.
The company is targeting a formal launch of its aviation services by the end of 2010 and has already negotiated agreements with the US Navy and a number of corporates including Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), ITT Corp., TLC Engineering and AvStar Aviation Group.
SatMAX has also recently signed a strategic alliance with McDonald Technologies International for engineering, manufacturing and support services associated with the former’s ground-based, non-line-of-sight sat coms products.
Financial details were not disclosed.
Commenting on the agreement, SatMAX CEO, Don Bresina, stated, “This alliance is a high point for us. We have been looking for a solution to keep our size from bottle-necking our ability to grow the business.
“Having access to McDonald Technologies’ industryrecognized RF engineering and manufacturing capabilities provides us with the opportunity to quickly scale our business and dramatically expands our own engineering, manufacturing and customer response capabilities.” Founded in 1964, McDonald Technologies International specialises in manufacturing RF, aerospace and communications systems products.
Earlier this year, SatMAX announced that it has eliminated a total of US$1.4m of its debt marking the end of a more than a year of restructuring that saw its parent company Security Financing Services carry out a 1-for-20 reverse stock split and change the company’s name from Echo Satellite Communications in May 2009.
