--- title: "UK watchdog to look into Viasat's acquisition of Inmarsat" description: "Viasat and Inmarsat stated that they would let the CMA know if there was any anticipated delay in the deal's conclusion." author: "Muskan Singh" published: 2022-10-15 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/news/2162/uk-watchdog-to-look-into-viasat-s-acquisition-of-inmarsat category: "technology" tags: ["technology", "technology news", "technical support services", "science and technology"] reading_time: 2 minutes --- # UK watchdog to look into Viasat's acquisition of Inmarsat The **$7.3 billion [acquisition](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2246/following-elon-musk-s-acquisition-gm-suspends-its-twitter-advertising) of satellite competitor Inmarsat by Viasat (VSAT.O) has been referred for a thorough [investigation](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2149/twitter-claims-in-court-that-elon-musk-is-the-subject-of-government-investigations) by Britain's [competition](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23460/5-ways-you-can-use-competition-to-your-benefit) regulator, it was announced on Friday, raising the possibility that the transaction could be postponed.** The [United States](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2228/the-united-states-claims-seagate-broke-export-laws-by-selling-huawei-hard-drives) The purchase of the British business by Viasat was announced late last year, and a closing was anticipated for the [second half](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/50143/what-challanges-did-the-us-face-in-the-second-half-of-the-19th-century) of this year. However, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has 24 weeks to finish its investigation. The tie-up, according to the CMA, might limit competition in the aviation connection industry, **forcing airlines to increase the cost of on-board** [**Wi-Fi**](https://www.mindstick.com/news/1590/spacex-signed-its-first-in-flight-wi-fi-deal-with-jet-service-jsx)**.** The takeover has already received security clearance from [British and American](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/42175/what-was-one-difference-between-the-british-and-american-forces-at-the-beginning-of-the-american-revolution) authorities. While **Inmarsat delivers satellite-based [communications](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/44489/leased-lines-and-other-tools-for-business-communications) services to government agencies, the maritime and aviation industries, and residential, aviation, and defence customers in [North America](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2142/beginning-in-2025-sony-honda-will-produce-high-end-evs-in-north-america), Viasat offers connection services to these same markets.** Despite competition from Panasonic (6752.T) and Intelsat, who hold more than 75% of the long-haul market, the two businesses said they are still hopeful that the merger will be approved and boost the availability of reasonably priced in-flight Wi-Fi. In a joint statement, **Viasat and Inmarsat stated that they would let the CMA know if there was any anticipated delay in the deal's conclusion.** The watchdog, for its part, stated that the agreement needs more research because, based on the information it currently has, it would entail a 'significant decrease of competition within a market or markets' in the [**UK**](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2124/tiktok-could-face-a-29-million-fine-in-the-uk-for-failing-to-protect-kids-privacy). In a joint statement, Viasat and Inmarsat stated that they would let the CMA know if there was any anticipated delay in the deal's conclusion. --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/news/2162/uk-watchdog-to-look-into-viasat-s-acquisition-of-inmarsat Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.