Spacecom
Israeli communications-satellite operator serving broadcasters, telecommunications providers and enterprise customers across several regions.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Spacecom, also known as Space Communication, is an Israeli communications-satellite operator headquartered in Ramat Gan. The company markets satellite capacity and related communications services to customers in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and North America. Its activities have centered on the AMOS satellite family, a fleet developed to support broadcasting, telecommunications and data connectivity. The company was established in 1993 to commercialize AMOS-1, a communications satellite built by Israel Aerospace Industries. Spacecom initially operated as a privately controlled business involving several Israeli corporate shareholders, including Israel Aerospace Industries and Eurocom Group. AMOS-1 gave the company its first operating platform and established its role as a provider of regional satellite capacity. Spacecom subsequently expanded its fleet with AMOS-2, which entered service in 2003 and was owned entirely by the company, and AMOS-3, launched in 2008 to replace AMOS-1 while increasing available coverage and traffic capacity. Spacecom became a public company in 2005 through a listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Its business has included direct-to-home television distribution, satellite internet, VSAT connectivity, broadband and telephony links, and radio transmission. Rather than selling consumer electronics under the Spacecom name, the company primarily provides wholesale and managed communications capacity to broadcasters, telecom operators, internet-service providers, governments and other institutional users. The fleet has included satellites positioned to reach different commercial regions. AMOS-3 and AMOS-7 have operated from the 4° West orbital position, while AMOS-4 has operated from 65° East. AMOS-5, positioned at 17° East, was designed in part to serve African customers and began commercial operations in early 2012 using C-band and Ku-band capacity. Communications with AMOS-5 were lost in November 2015. AMOS-7 was obtained through a lease arrangement involving AsiaSat 8, extending Spacecom's available capacity without requiring the company to launch a wholly new satellite for that position. Ownership discussions became especially important after the loss of AMOS-6 in 2016. Spacecom shareholders had agreed in principle to sell the company to Beijing Xinwei Technology Group through a Luxembourg vehicle for a reported US$500 million, subject to conditions connected with AMOS-6 entering service. AMOS-6 was destroyed on 1 September 2016 during preparations for a Falcon 9 static-fire test, two days before its scheduled launch. The parties continued discussions, but the transaction value was expected to be reconsidered and negotiations ultimately ended in 2017 without completion. In 2021, Spacecom and Hungarian information-technology and telecommunications company 4iG signed an agreement under which 4iG would acquire a 51 percent stake. The reference material does not establish that the transaction was completed, so Spacecom's current ultimate ownership is not stated here. The company remains associated with satellite-based broadcasting and connectivity services and with the AMOS platform, although its fleet, ownership and commercial position have changed over time.
History
Spacecom was established in Israel in 1993 with the purpose of marketing AMOS-1, a communications satellite manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries. The company was initially privately controlled by four corporate shareholders, among them Israel Aerospace Industries and Eurocom Group. Its founding business model was based on commercializing satellite capacity rather than manufacturing spacecraft itself. AMOS-1 provided the foundation for Spacecom's early operations. The company expanded the AMOS platform with the launch of AMOS-2 in 2003. AMOS-2 was wholly owned by Spacecom and increased the company's ability to offer communications capacity to customers. In 2005, Spacecom became a publicly traded company on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, marking a change from its earlier privately controlled structure. AMOS-3 was launched in 2008 to replace AMOS-1 and provide greater coverage and traffic capability. Spacecom later broadened its orbital footprint with AMOS-4, launched from Baikonur in August 2013. AMOS-4 operated from 65° East and was intended to connect Southeast Asia with regions extending toward the Middle East. AMOS-5 was launched from Kazakhstan in 2011 and entered commercial service in early 2012 from 17° East. It used C-band and Ku-band beams and was particularly associated with service plans for African customers. In November 2015, Spacecom lost communications with AMOS-5. The company also operated capacity from the 4° West orbital position through AMOS-3 and AMOS-7. AMOS-7 was not described as a conventional newly launched Spacecom satellite in the supplied material; rather, Spacecom obtained it through a lease of AsiaSat 8. Across these platforms, Spacecom supplied direct-to-home broadcasting, satellite internet, VSAT connectivity, radio services, and broadband or telephony links. Its coverage has extended across much of the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, with additional commercial reach into North America. A major corporate turning point came in 2016. Spacecom shareholders agreed to sell the company to Beijing Xinwei Technology Group through a Luxembourg business entity for a reported US$500 million. Completion was linked to the successful entry into service of AMOS-6. On 1 September 2016, however, AMOS-6 was destroyed during preparations for a static-fire test of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle, shortly before the planned launch. Spacecom and Xinwei continued discussions after the incident, but the expected purchase price was likely to be reduced. By April 2017, the negotiations had failed and Spacecom began looking for alternative buyers. In October 2021, Spacecom and 4iG Plc., a Hungarian information-technology and telecommunications company, signed an agreement under which 4iG would acquire a 51 percent majority stake. The supplied material does not state that the transaction was completed, and therefore it is not treated here as confirmed ownership. Spacecom's history reflects the development of an Israeli satellite operator from a single-satellite commercialization project into a multi-orbit provider of broadcast and connectivity capacity, while also showing the operational and ownership risks associated with capital-intensive satellite infrastructure.
- 2021
Agreement with 4iG
[1]Spacecom signs an agreement for 4iG to acquire a 51 percent stake; completion is not confirmed in the supplied material.
- 2016
AMOS-6 is destroyed before launch
[1]AMOS-6 is destroyed during preparations for a Falcon 9 static-fire test before its scheduled launch.
- 2015
Loss of AMOS-5 communications
[1]All communications with AMOS-5 are lost.
- 2013
AMOS-4 is launched
[1]AMOS-4 is successfully launched from Baikonur and assigned to the 65° East orbital position.
- 2012
AMOS-5 begins commercial operations
[1]AMOS-5 begins commercial service using C-band and Ku-band capacity.
- 2011
AMOS-5 is launched
[1]AMOS-5 is launched from Kazakhstan for services including coverage aimed at African customers.
- 2008
AMOS-3 enters the fleet
[1]AMOS-3 is launched to replace AMOS-1 and expand coverage and traffic capacity.
- 2005
Public listing
[1]Spacecom becomes publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
- 2003
AMOS-2 is launched
[1]AMOS-2 becomes Spacecom's second satellite and is owned entirely by the company.
- 1993
Spacecom is established
[1]Spacecom is founded to market AMOS-1, a communications satellite manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries.
Products and positioning
A regional and international satellite-capacity provider focused on broadcasting, telecommunications and data connectivity across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Satellite communications · 1993
AMOS satellite capacity
Spacecom's principal offering is commercial capacity on the AMOS satellite platform. Capacity is used for television and radio distribution, satellite internet, VSAT networks, broadband links and telephony. Different satellites and orbital positions support regional beams covering markets across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Broadcast distribution
Direct-to-home broadcasting
Spacecom provides satellite capacity for direct-to-home television distribution. The service is aimed at broadcasters and platform operators that need wide-area transmission to household receiving equipment.
Connectivity
Satellite internet and VSAT
The company's satellite infrastructure supports internet access and VSAT connectivity for customers outside or beyond the reliable reach of terrestrial networks. These services can support enterprise, institutional and telecommunications applications across geographically dispersed markets.
Communications satellite · 2008
AMOS-3
AMOS-3 was launched in 2008 to replace AMOS-1 and increase Spacecom's coverage and traffic capabilities. It has operated from the 4° West orbital position alongside AMOS-7.
Communications satellite · 2013
AMOS-4
AMOS-4 was launched in 2013 and operates from 65° East. Its planned service footprint includes Southeast Asia, with high-power beams supporting links between East Asia and the Middle East.
Communications satellite capacity
AMOS-7
AMOS-7 represents leased capacity associated with AsiaSat 8 at the 4° West orbital position. It supports Spacecom's communications services without being described in the supplied material as a newly launched Spacecom-owned satellite.
Brand decisions
2021
Signing a majority-stake agreement with 4iGM&ABackground
Spacecom signed an agreement with Hungarian information-technology and telecommunications company 4iG after the earlier proposed sale to Beijing Xinwei had not been completed.
Action taken
The agreement provided for 4iG to acquire a 51 percent stake in Spacecom.
Aftermath
The supplied reference does not confirm whether the acquisition was completed, so no current ownership conclusion is drawn.
2016
Agreeing to a proposed sale to Beijing XinweiM&ABackground
Spacecom shareholders agreed to a proposed US$500 million sale to Beijing Xinwei Technology Group through a Luxembourg entity. The agreement was connected to the planned entry into service of AMOS-6.
Action taken
The parties pursued the acquisition, but the AMOS-6 launch-preparation accident led to discussions about reducing the purchase price.
Aftermath
Negotiations continued after the accident but had failed by April 2017. Spacecom then began seeking other potential buyers.
Proposed acquisition value. (2016)
Recent events
- 2021
Spacecom signs agreement for a majority stake sale to 4iG[1]
M&A
Spacecom and Hungarian information-technology and telecommunications company 4iG signed an agreement for 4iG to acquire a 51 percent stake in Spacecom. The supplied reference does not confirm completion.
- 2017
Negotiations with Beijing Xinwei end without a completed acquisition[1]
M&A
After the AMOS-6 loss, Spacecom and Beijing Xinwei continued discussing revised transaction terms, but their negotiations had ended by April 2017 and Spacecom began seeking other buyers.
- 2016
Shareholders agree to proposed sale to Beijing Xinwei[1]
M&A
Spacecom shareholders agreed to a proposed US$500 million sale to Beijing Xinwei Technology Group through a Luxembourg entity, subject to conditions involving AMOS-6.
- 2016
AMOS-6 is destroyed before launch[1]
Other · Product generation
AMOS-6 was destroyed during preparations for a Falcon 9 static-fire test at the launch site, before its scheduled launch.
- 2015
AMOS-5 communications are lost[1]
Other
Spacecom lost all communications with AMOS-5, a satellite that had provided C-band and Ku-band services from the 17° East orbital position.
- 2005
Spacecom becomes publicly listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange[1]
Other
Spacecom transitioned from private ownership to public trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/spacecom · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled