|| Date Published: May 10, 2023 The U.K. government has approved the planned merger Viasat agreed to acquire Inmarsat in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $3.9 billion as part of efforts to provide a global hybrid network for government and enterprise communications. In March, the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority issued a provisional clearance to the transaction after a Phase 2 investigation found that the combined entity is likely to face competition from existing and emerging companies as the satellite communications sector expands, including SpaceX, Panasonic and Intelsat. To inform its final report on the deal, CMA sought feedback from interested stakeholders on its provisional findings, setting a March 21 deadline for the responses. Viasat and Inmarsat officials welcomed the U.K. agency’s decision to allow the transaction to go ahead. “We’re