Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire MTN Communications (MTN).

The acquisition will benefit the organizations’ combined 1,600 vessels and more than 8,000 land-based customer sites in the most hard to reach places on all continents and in every ocean. 

Customers will represent multiple verticals, including maritime, energy, cruise lines and ferries, yachts, non-governmental organizations, telecommunications providers, global enterprises and governments.

The combined entity will be one of the largest independent providers of satellite connectivity services for both land-based sites and maritime vessels, worldwide. The company will also be the largest provider of connectivity services, in some of the most strategic verticals within the satellite industry, backed by ABRY Partners, a private equity firm specializing in funding some of the most successful communications companies in North America, with more than $42 billion of completed transactions.

“Our vision is to create the next generation mobility platform offering the most reliable, secure and cost-effective connectivity solutions for people and businesses on-the-move – and in far reaching places – on land and at sea – and the acquisition of MTN makes this vision a reality,” said Abel Avellan, founder and CEO of EMC.‎

“We are bringing together two global communications leaders to meet customers’ unprecedented requirements for land-like connectivity, content and voice services in the world’s furthest reaching corners,” said Mark Walter, president and chief operating officer, MTN.  “Our combined talent, networks and product set will deliver capabilities and scalability no other provider can offer.”

“Since our customers ask for greater speeds and exponentially higher throughput every year, combining into one entity enhances our ability to bring invaluable solutions, with the highest levels of service, for business and mission-critical operations globally,” said Errol Olivier, executive vice chairman, MTN.  “We are excited about the enhanced scale and global resources we will bring in our mission to exceed customer demands.”

“By integrating EMC and MTN, we will put together all of the key building blocks to create the most complete, globally-scalable mobility platform, along with unique services, truly different from any provider in the market,” said Avellan.