Telespazio Acquires e2E to Strengthen Integrated Space Capabilities in the UK

L-R, Eliot Minn, Co-founder and Strategy Director, e2E, Luigi Pasquali, Telespazio CEO, Clive Higgins, Chair and CEO, Leonardo UK , Barry Ross, e2E Co-Founder and CEO and Mark Hewer, Telespazio UK CEO.

Telespazio UK, a subsidiary of Telespazio (a joint venture between Leonardo, 67%, and Thales, 33%), has announced that it has finalised the acquisition of e2E Group.

With over 45 years of heritage in the UK marketplace, Telespazio UK has a track record of success delivering systems, services and engineering support to the European Space Agency (ESA), European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), space primes, and national civil and defence customers. Telespazio UK space domain expertise spans earth observation / geoinformation / science exploration data systems, resilient navigation & timing, space domain awareness, civil / defence ground segment, and downstream applications & climate services.

e2E Group, headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, is a leading UK independent space systems engineering and consultancy group who provide high calibre and bespoke technical support and expertise. Since 1999, e2E has provided systems engineering and technical consultancy services ranging from developing software for satellite operations, integrating and testing new space systems, assuring communication services, developing next generation system architectures and developing first-off proof-of-concept demonstrations involving software defined radio (SDR), system-on-chip (SoC) implementation and around radio frequency (RF) and free space optical communications. The e2E group has invested in leading edge communications-based technology developments gaining domain knowledge and intellectual property that is being applied to several new projects that look to benefit the satellite communications industry.

The addition of deep satellite communications engineering expertise from e2E provides Telespazio UK with enhanced capability in the delivery of space-enabled services, and the strong heritage of e2E working with defence and commercial customers deeply complements the decadal heritage with Telespazio UK’s institutional customers. This acquisition provides a huge step forward in Telespazio UK’s journey to make a major impact in helping to deliver the national space strategy, from both a civil and defence perspective.

Furthermore, this larger combined business will boost the ability of Telespazio Group, its Space Alliance partner Thales Alenia Space, and its shareholders Leonardo and Thales to offer integrated defence and space solutions to UK customers.

In the UK, Leonardo and Thales together employ 14,000 people across 26 sites in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have a combined spend of £1.3Bn annually with over 4,000 companies across the UK, and invest more than £250M every year in UK-based research and development.

Mark Hewer, Telespazio UK CEO said: “This is a critically important milestone in our plan to help Team UK deliver on the National Space Strategy.  e2E has a great team and fantastic reputation, and our ability to draw on these now enhanced space capabilities of the company will be a high impact factor in delivering services to our commercial customers, government departments and our armed forces.”

Barry Ross, e2E Co-Founder and CEO said: “This is a fantastic and exciting step forward in the journey of e2E. Our UK satellite communications expertise dovetails perfectly with Telespazio’s space operations, ground systems, Geo Information services and PNT heritage to provide clients with an ever more enhanced offering. This acquisition also allows for e2E’s state-of-the-art technology and demonstrations to be more rapidly advanced and exploited, cementing the UK’s reputation in leading next generation products and services”.

Telespazio Group CEO, Luigi Pasquali, said: “The UK is an important strategic focus for Telespazio and our shareholders, and we are excited to be able to make this investment in the Country. Increasing the capabilities of our UK business will be vital in Telespazio Group’s growth plan, enabling high impact space-enabled services and ensuring a sustainable earth and space environment.”

Adrian Weir, Group Finance Director - Leonardo UK & Chair, Telespazio UK Board said: “The incredible breadth and depth of Telespazio UK’s space domain capabilities following this important transaction is something that Leonardo and Thales can leverage right across our workface in all UK geographies.”