Munich — ARQIS has advised SkyFive GmbH on the acquisition of the key assets of Nokia ’s Air-to-Ground (A2G) business. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Nokia’s A2G technology is particularly suitable for providing broadband mobile connectivity for continental air traffic and has significant technology and cost advantages over satellite communications solutions commonly used today. With the acquired assets, SkyFive becomes the world’s first A2G communications specialist.
SkyFive takes responsibility for the end-to-end solution, which consists of avionics, telecommunications and IT systems. Nokia continues to be responsible for selling and implementing the backbone network — an integral part of the solution — to communications service providers, based on its strong technology and global delivery capabilities. Thorsten Robrecht, CEO of SkyFive, said, “For us, this transaction is an important step on our path to true broadband connectivity services in the sky and serves as a springboard for global expansion.”
SkyFive GmbH was founded in 2019 by three senior NOKIA employees through a management buy-out to build a specialist air-to-ground (A2G) solutions and services company. The company’s mission is to enable a breakthrough in the digitization of air travel and meet the growing connectivity needs of airlines with a high-performance, future-proof and cost-effective solution based on 4G and 5G standards.
Advisor SkyFive: ARQIS Rechtsanwälte (Düsseldorf/Munich)
Mauritz von Einem (Lead; Corporate/M&A/Tax Law), Prof. Dr. Christoph von Einem (Corporate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP & Commercial), Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Dr. Stephanie Lenze (both Labor Law), Christian Wegener (Tax Law), Dr. Christof Schneider (Corporate/M&A and Compliance), Elisabeth Falterer (Corporate); Berenike Gottwald (Legal Support Specialist)