Emerging Markets Communications

Emerging Markets Communications

Emerging Markets Communications was established in 1999 by Abel Avellan, an electrical engineer who previously worked at Comsat. The firm targeted connectivity for mobile and remote enterprise customers — primarily maritime vessels, offshore energy platforms, and NGOs operating in locations without terrestrial infrastructure. EMC grew by acquiring satellite capacity and building its own teleports and fiber backhaul, creating a private network that served more than 2,000 vessels and 1,500 land-based sites across roughly 140 countries. Clients included major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, offshore drillers such as Transocean, and government agencies requiring secure communications in austere environments. EMC operated as an integrated connectivity provider rather than a reseller. It combined C-band, Ku-band, and later Ka-band satellite capacity with proprietary terrestrial infrastructure — including seven owned teleports and a growing fiber backbone in Africa and Latin America. The firm offered managed VSAT, crew welfare services, and real-time offshore data solutions for drilling and seismic operations. In 2013, ABRY Partners acquired a majority stake, and the firm accelerated its fiber buildout, notably constructing the Monet subsea cable linking Florida to Brazil. EMC participated in club deals and direct infrastructure investments, often partnering with regional telecom operators and development finance institutions to extend reach. At its peak, EMC employed approximately 600 professionals with principal offices in Miramar, Florida; London; Dubai; Rio de Janeiro; and Lagos. The firm operated a 24/7 network operations center in Miramar and maintained field engineering teams across its service footprint. In June 2013, EMC secured a $185 million credit facility led by Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse to refinance debt and fund expansion, signaling institutional confidence in its owned-infrastructure model. The firm was ultimately acquired by Global Eagle Entertainment in a $550 million deal that closed in July 2015, with Avellan departing shortly after to found satellite startup AST SpaceMobile. EMC's structural differentiator was its refusal to be a bandwidth middleman. Unlike most satellite service providers that lease capacity and resell it, EMC owned and operated the ground segment — teleports, fiber routes, and network management platforms — which gave it control over latency, uptime, and service levels. This vertical integration, combined with a focus on markets where terrestrial alternatives did not exist, created a moat that pure-play resellers could not replicate. The firm's legacy now lives on in AST SpaceMobile, where Avellan applies the same thesis — owning the infrastructure, not just the licenses — to building a space-based cellular broadband network.