Ground Control, the UK and US-based specialist in satellite IoT devices and cloud-based platforms, has been acquired by CLS, a global provider of satellite services for environmental monitoring and resource management.

Ground Control will continue to operate under its own brand.

The acquisition strengthens CLS’s position in the growing satellite IoT market and enhances its ability to deliver solutions for environmental protection, climate adaptation, and the security of people, assets and critical infrastructure.

As the long-standing operator of the Argos satellite-based data collection and localisation system, CLS was tracking objects long before the advent of GPS. A subsidiary of CNES (French Space Agency) and CNP, an investment company, CLS pioneered satellite data collection and geolocation services, which remain at the core of its activities. Over the years, the company has become a global player in satellite IoT solutions.

Ground Control brings expertise in rugged satellite hardware, from cost-effective RockBLOCK modules to advanced RockREMOTE devices, and its Cloudloop platform for device and data management. Ground Control’s technologies enrich CLS’s already extensive ecosystem, which includes beacons, services, decision-support cloud platforms, forecasting models and artificial intelligence tools. While CLS and Ground Control sometimes operate in the same strategic sectors, they address complementary customer bases and offer distinct yet interoperable technologies.

“Joining CLS is a natural evolution for Ground Control,” said Alastair MacLeod, CEO of Ground Control. “Together, we offer end-to-end solutions – hardware, connectivity, platform, and support – with enhanced global reach through local representation and shared environmental values.”

Stéphanie Limouzin, President of CLS Group, said, “Joining CLS is a natural step for Ground Control. Together, we offer complete end-to-end solutions with stronger global coverage and shared environmental values.”

The acquisition adds four operational sites to CLS’s existing network of 31 offices across five continents, bringing the total to 35 locations and more than 1,100 employees. Clients of both companies will benefit from an integrated ecosystem, expanded local presence, increased R&D capacity, and a shared commitment to sustainable innovation.