Ground Control joins CLS to advance satellite IoT for environmental and infrastructure monitoring

Ground Control has been acquired by CLS, the global provider of satellite services for environmental monitoring and resource management. 

The acquisition strengthens CLS’s position in the rapidly 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. 

The company’s sustained growth underscores the effectiveness of CLS’s strategy and its resilience in an increasingly competitive global market. This acquisition marks the group’s 18th since it began external growth initiatives in 2008. 

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. 

Stéphanie Limouzin, President of The CLS Group, said: “Combining CLS’s space-based IoT services with Ground Control’s hardware and cloud platforms allows us to provide clients with a broader range of solutions, faster support, and more operational flexibility.” 

Alastair MacLeod, CEO of Ground Control, added: “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. 

Ground Control was advised by HCR (legal) and IAGC (financial), while CLS was advised by Capital Law (UK) and Meister Seelig & Fein (USA).