Satellite

Rocket Lab Aiming for Enterprise, Defense Services with Iridium Acquisition

Comments are due to the FCC on the deal Oct. 15

Jake Neenan

Sep 22, 2026 — 4 min read

Screenshot of MTS host Sophia Dew and Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck on the show's livestream Monday

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2026 – With its planned $8 billion acquisition of Iridium, Rocket Lab is aiming to lean more into government and navigation services than consumer communications, the company’s CEO said Monday.

Rocket Lab CEO and founder Peter Beck compared Iridium’s exclusive L-band spectrum holdings to a “loud voice” capable of punching through walls and inclement weather.

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