The EC has set a provisional deadline of 10 June 2025 to publish its ruling following its own phase one investigation.
Satellite operators Intelsat and SES have received approval from the UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for their proposed merger.
Following a phase one review, the CMA concluded that the deal does not raise substantial competition concerns in the UK market, ruling out the need for a more in-depth phase two investigation. The regulator confirmed that it will publish its full findings in the near future.
This green light from the CMA removes one of the major regulatory barriers to the merger, though the transaction still awaits key decisions from other jurisdictions. The European Commission is currently conducting its own initial investigation, with a provisional deadline set for June 10, 2025, to deliver its ruling. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice are independently reviewing the merger. The FCCs review, which began in August 2024, has already exceeded its original 180-day timeline.
Intelsat and SES have maintained that they expect the merger to be finalised in the second half of 2025, pending the remaining regulatory approvals. The merger, if completed, would represent a transformative shift in the global satellite communications industry, aiming to enhance operational efficiencies and expand combined service capabilities.
