Orbcomm to acquire South African connectivity solution player Skygistics

Orbcomm to acquire South African connectivity solution player Skygistics

Orbcomm, a global provider of machine to machine and Internet of Things solutions, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Skygistics and its South African and Australian subsidiaries. Based outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, Skygistics provides a broad range of satellite and cellular connectivity options as well as telematics solutions centred around management of remote and mobile assets to more than 250 telematics and enterprise customers. Skygistics will add distribution for Orbcomm’s broad range of products in some of the fastest growing IoT markets, including South Africa and 22 other African nations.

Skygistics is a long time partner of SkyWave, a subsidiary of Orbcomm, and a distributor of SkyWave’s satellite connectivity products. Satellite connectivity is used widely in Africa for cost-effective, mission-critical cross border security monitoring and asset management applications.

“The acquisition of Skygistics supports Orbcomm’s long-term strategy of becoming a leading global, full-service provider in the Internet of Things,” said Marc Eisenberg, Orbcomm’s Chief Executive Officer. “Adding incremental products and services to Skygistics’ infrastructure will build a stronger presence on the African continent, which is an important growing market.”

“Orbcomm provides Skygistics with the breadth of products, solutions, support and technical resources needed to make a greater impact in the African telematics market,” said Kevin Eborall, Skygistics’ Chairman. “We expect to more fully meet our customers’ requirements and vastly grow the business through the distribution of industry-leading transportation, heavy equipment and a host of other solutions and services in this underserved region. The strength of the Orbcomm brand combined with Skygistics’ regional footprint and technology make this transaction a great fit.”

Skygistics has more than 40 employees with an established sales and distribution network throughout Africa. The transaction is expected to close in May 2016, subject to customary closing conditions.

Orbcomm is a global provider of M2M communication solutions and the only commercial satellite network dedicated to M2M. Orbcomm’s combination of global satellite, cellular and dual mode network connectivity, hardware, web reporting applications and software is the M2M industry’s most complete service offering. The solutions are designed to remotely track, monitor, and control fixed and mobile assets in core vertical markets including transportation and distribution, heavy equipment, industrial fixed assets, oil and gas, maritime, mining and government.

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