11 June 2025
The planned acquisition of Intelsat by SES is reportedly set to be finalised next week. The European Commission is widely expected to give its unconditional approval to the deal, which is valued at over $2.9 billion, following the British Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) approval granted on 2 June.
This merger is being viewed as a strategic move to establish a formidable European satellite player capable of competing with global giants like Starlink. Additionally, it could significantly influence the satellite television sector across Africa, where both companies currently serve a substantial number of channels.
SES, which provides satellite capacity for Canal+ in Africa via its SES 4 satellite, also hosts many free-to-air channels, such as Ethiosat, which reaches approximately 17 million viewers in Ethiopia through the SES NSS 12 satellite. Meanwhile, Intelsat operates around 500 channels across Africa, leveraging its IS-20 satellite to serve the continent’s broadcasters.
The combined entity would unify a large portion of Africa’s satellite TV broadcasting infrastructure, potentially transforming the landscape of audiovisual distribution across the region. This consolidation promises to create a more competitive and resilient satellite network, capable of supporting the growing demand for television and digital services in Africa and beyond.
