Nautel, the Nova Scotia-based maker of radio transmitters, has acquired French technology companies Digidia and Kenta to expand its offerings of products in the broadcast and maritime communications sectors.

The Hackett’s Cove-based company announced the purchase of the companies, both based in northwestern France, on Wednesday, but did not reveal the price it paid. It added that Kenta is owned by Digidia, and that the acquired companies’ senior management would remain in place.

Nautel said the acquisitions expand its core product lines, enhancing the company’s expertise in high-power electronics design and digital signal processing.

“We are absolutely excited to welcome the talented teams of Digidia and Kenta to the Nautel family,” said Nautel President and CEO Kevin Rodgers in the statement. “Together with Nautel’s existing transmission products we will be able to better serve an even larger base of customers worldwide.”

Nautel is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of AM and FM radio broadcast transmitters, and a leading manufacturer of sonar amplifiers, sonar transducers, navigational beacons, and weather radio transmitters. More than 16,000 Nautel transmitters have been deployed in over 177 countries.

Founded in 2005 in Rennes, France, Digidia has developed rare design knowledge related to DAB+ and DRM, which are two of the major digital audio broadcasting standards. In addition, the company has created specialized solutions that address synchronization of radio transmissions for highway projects or to allow radio reception within Europe’s numerous mountain tunnels. 

Digidia will continue as a separate entity, serving its customers out of its fully integrated design and manufacturing facility in Rennes.

Kenta was established in 1990 and was acquired by Digidia in 2011. The company develops radio frequency communication systems, mainly in the area of global maritime distress and safety systems for telephony or voice transmission.

The company offers turnkey transmitter and receiver solutions for systems with a range of frequencies and can provide both coastal stations and maritime rescue coordination centre software. Kenta operates out of its fully integrated design and manufacturing facility in Quimper, France.

Former shareholders Hermann Zensen, Manuel Billot and Damien Bernard will remain as executives for the two companies.

“Nautel has achieved exceptional customer acceptance for its line of broadcast transmitters and more recent success for its sonar and navigational products,” said Zensen, who is the French group’s Sales Manager. “We believe this is a perfect partnership that makes more resources and opportunities available for our teams and allows Kenta and Digidia to better serve our customers and continue our growth.”