CLS Acquires Ground Control to Strengthen Global Satellite IoT Offering & Environmental Impact

A leading provider of innovative satellite services dedicated to the study, protection, and sustainable management of the planet resources, CLS announces the acquisition of Ground Control, a UK- and US-based specialist in satellite IoT devices and cloud-based monitoring platforms.

Amid the rapid expansion of satellite IoT solutions, the acquisition of Ground Control strengthens CLS’s standing as a leader in both technology and environmental responsibility.

For over 40 years, CLS has been at the forefront of using satellite IoT to address two of the most pressing global challenges:

• Environmental protection and climate change adaptation: monitoring biodiversity, herd management, smart agriculture, sustainable fisheries, observing oceans, ice and hydrological systems, detecting pollution, and deploying early-warning systems for natural disasters such as wildfires and floods.
• Security of people, assets and critical infrastructure: humanitarian staff and vehicles, monitoring of global maritime traffic, pipelines, dams and energy networks that require continuous and reliable surveillance, including in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

Ground Control brings to CLS its recognised expertise in designing rugged satellite communication terminals, from its cost effective, plug-and-play RockBLOCK modules for simple sensor and gateway connectivity, to its RockREMOTE series, built to handle more advanced IoT and M2M requirements. The acquisition also strengthens CLS’s portfolio of web-based platforms with Cloudloop, an enhanced device and data management platform already used by critical sectors such as energy, transport and emergency communications.

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 the investiment company CNP, 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’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 different complementary customer bases and offer distinct yet interoperable technologies.

Stéphanie Limouzin, President of The CLS Group

“Combining CLS’s space-based IoT services with Ground Control’s robust hardware and cloud platforms makes perfect sense.

This move will allow us to better serve our clients with enhanced proximity, agility, and a broader portfolio of tools adapted to their operational environments.”

This acquisition brings three new operational sites, alongside CLS’s existing 31 offices on five continents, creating a network of 35 locations and over 1,100 employees.

Clients of both CLS and Ground Control will now benefit from a unified ecosystem of solutions, supported by expanded local presence, increased R&D capacity, and a shared commitment to delivering planet-positive innovation.

The CLS Group has achieved steady growth and strategic international expansion

Since its founding in 1986 as a subsidiary of the National Center for Space Studies (CNES), CLS has continuously innovated in space-based solutions to monitor and protect the planet.

With headquarters in Toulouse and now 35 sites worldwide (including Quiet-Oceans), CLS employs now nearly 1,100 people dedicated to sustainable resource management.

CLS realises growth that underscores the company’s strong strategy and ability to thrive in the global market. This acquisition marks the group’s 18th since it began external growth initiatives in 2008.

Ground Control has been advised by HCR, legal advisors, and IAGC, acting as financial advisors. CLS has been advised by its legal advisors, Capital Law (UK) and Meister Seelig & Fein (USA).

More about Ground Control

Ground Control is a UK- and US-based company specialized in reliable, rugged satellite and hybrid IoT communications solutions for remote and mission-critical operations.

Founded nearly 30 years ago, the company has built a strong reputation for designing and manufacturing compact, low-power satellite IoT devices and two-way messaging trackers, used across industries where connectivity is essential, no matter how remote the location.

At the heart of Ground Control’s offering is Cloudloop, a flexible and secure device and subscription management platform that enables seamless provisioning, data routing, and operational visibility across diverse global asset fleets.

With teams based in the UK and California, Ground Control serves a broad range of sectors, including:

• Environmental science & monitoring,
• Fisheries & marine operations,
• Utilities & smart grid,
• Renewable energy infrastructure,
• Disaster response & early warning systems,
• Agriculture & precision farming,
• Defense & humanitarian logistics.

Ground Control’s devices and platforms are used by governments, NGOs, research institutes, and industrial operators worldwide to enable data-driven decision-making, monitor assets in real time, and ensure business continuity in challenging environments.

Now part of the CLS Group, Ground Control continues to develop robust, field-proven technology while benefiting from the global reach, environmental mission, and scientific legacy of its new parent company.