Rocket Lab announced it will acquire Iridium at a price of $54 per share, with the total transaction valued at approximately $8 billion. The deal structure is a mix of cash and stock. Rocket Lab is acquiring Iridium's LEO satellite network, L-band spectrum, and an ecosystem of over 500 partners. Iridium currently has 2.55 million active users, covering commercial, government, defense, aviation, and maritime sectors. From the industry chain perspective, Rocket Lab used to focus only on 'building and launching,' but now it’s adding 'operating and servicing.' This means it can design, launch, and operate constellations on its own, without relying on third-party networks. Scenarios like satellite IoT, direct-to-phone connectivity, navigation, and life safety services, which previously required partnerships, can now be handled in-house. Keep an eye on Spacex, which is in the same field.