Silknet

Silknet JSC is a Georgian telecommunications company and a subsidiary of Silk Road Group. The company operates across Georgia and serves more than one million customers through a broad portfolio of communications and media services. Its activities include mobile communications, fixed and wireless internet access, IPTV, over-the-top television, fixed telephony, and satellite television. The business is presented in the reference material as the largest telecommunications company in Georgia and in the wider Caucasus region. The company was established in 2010 on the basis of United Telecom. It was initially registered as a limited liability company and was later converted into a joint-stock company. Although the Silknet corporate entity dates from 2010, its operating history is connected to earlier network and service developments. In 2007, the business became the first internet provider in Georgia to deploy fiber-optic connectivity directly to residential homes. This helped establish a foundation for high-speed fixed broadband services and for the later development of bundled communications and entertainment offerings. Silknet expanded its consumer proposition beyond internet access with the launch of Silk TV IPTV in 2009. The service included a rewind function, which was described as an innovation in the Georgian market at the time. Silknet subsequently added digital and mobile-access capabilities. In 2014, it introduced SilkGo, an application designed to let customers access television content on smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices. That same year, the company acquired an 85 percent interest in GMG, a television network that later became known as GMN and operated six film and sports channels. Silknet acquired the remaining 15 percent in 2016. A major turning point came in 2018, when Silknet acquired Geocell. The transaction was described in the reference material as the largest acquisition of a company in Georgia. Through the Geocell and S1 brands, Silknet participates in mobile communications, complementing its fixed broadband, television, and telephony activities. Its service architecture therefore spans both fixed and mobile networks, as well as traditional pay television and digital streaming formats. The company’s operating portfolio includes mobile services under Geocell and S1; cable internet under SilkOptic and DSL-related offerings; wireless internet; IPTV through Silk TV; OTT streaming television through Silk-TV Digital; wireless fixed telephony; cable fixed telephony, including VoIP and OTT-related services; and satellite television through Global TV. The combination of these services positions Silknet as an integrated connectivity and entertainment provider rather than a single-product mobile or broadband operator. Silknet’s principal local competitors identified in the reference material are MagtiCom, New Net, and Cellfie. Its market proposition is based on nationwide telecom coverage, a large customer base, multiple access technologies, and the ability to combine communications with television and digital content. No separate international operating footprint, public-market listing, current executive roster, or corporate website is established by the supplied material.

Silknet is a Georgian telecommunications company whose corporate formation dates to 2010, when it was established on the basis of United Telecom. The business was first registered as a limited liability company and was subsequently converted into a joint-stock company. It operates as a subsidiary of Silk Road Group and developed into a multi-service communications provider serving customers throughout Georgia. The company’s development is rooted in the expansion of fixed-line and broadband infrastructure. In 2007, the business became the first internet provider in Georgia to deploy a fiber-optic network directly to residential homes. This fiber-to-the-home development gave Silknet an early position in fixed high-speed connectivity and provided infrastructure that could support later bundled services. In 2009, the company entered television distribution with Silk TV, an IPTV service that included rewind functionality. The feature was regarded in the Georgian market as technologically innovative at the time because it allowed viewers greater control over scheduled television programming. Silknet later broadened its television strategy from conventional IPTV toward digital and mobile access. In 2014, it launched SilkGo, an application that enabled users to view television content on smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices. Silknet also expanded into television content and channel operations. In 2014, it acquired an 85 percent stake in GMG, a television network operating six film and sports channels. GMG was later known as GMN. Silknet acquired the outstanding 15 percent interest in 2016, completing its ownership of the network according to the supplied reference material. The most significant corporate expansion identified in the available material occurred in 2018, when Silknet acquired Geocell. The deal was described as the largest acquisition of a company in Georgia. Geocell, together with the S1 brand, became part of Silknet’s mobile communications portfolio. This acquisition strengthened the company’s ability to offer mobile services alongside its established fixed broadband, television, and telephony businesses. Silknet’s service portfolio now described in the reference material includes mobile communications through Geocell and S1; cable and fiber internet through SilkOptic and DSL offerings; wireless internet; IPTV through Silk TV; OTT streaming television through Silk-TV Digital; wireless fixed telephony; cable fixed telephony, including VoIP and OTT-related services; and satellite television through Global TV. This combination makes Silknet an integrated telecom and media brand, with offerings covering connectivity, voice, pay television, and digital content access. The company is described as serving more than one million customers across Georgia and as being the largest telecommunications company in Georgia and the wider Caucasus region. Its principal local competitors are identified as MagtiCom, New Net, and Cellfie. The supplied material does not establish a current executive team, a separate official website, public listing details, financial results, or operations outside Georgia.

1. 2018Geocell acquired

   Silknet acquired Geocell in a transaction described as the largest acquisition of a company in Georgia.

   Source
2. 2016Remaining GMG stake acquired

   Silknet acquired the remaining 15 percent of GMG, completing the company’s ownership of the television network.

   Source
3. 2014SilkGo launched

   The company launched SilkGo, an application for accessing television content on smartphones, tablets, and compatible devices.

   Source
4. 2014GMG majority stake acquired

   Silknet acquired 85 percent of GMG, a television network operating six film and sports channels.

   Source
5. 2010Silknet established

   Silknet was established on the basis of United Telecom and initially registered as a limited liability company before later becoming a joint-stock company.

   Source
6. 2009Silk TV IPTV introduced

   Silknet introduced Silk TV IPTV with rewind functionality, described as an innovation in the Georgian television market at the time.

   Source
7. 2007Fiber-optic residential deployment

   The business became the first internet provider in Georgia to deploy a fiber-optic network directly to residential homes.

   Source

An integrated Georgian telecommunications and media-services provider combining mobile connectivity, fixed and wireless broadband, telephony, IPTV, streaming television, and satellite television. Silknet competes through nationwide service availability, a large customer base, network infrastructure, and cross-category communications and entertainment offerings.

• GeocellMobile communications

  Geocell is one of Silknet’s mobile communications brands. It became part of the company following Silknet’s 2018 acquisition of Geocell, expanding Silknet’s position from fixed connectivity and television into a broader integrated telecommunications portfolio.

• S1Mobile communications

  S1 is identified in the reference material as another Silknet mobile communications branch. Together with Geocell, it represents the company’s mobile service offering within its wider portfolio of fixed, wireless, voice, and television products.

• SilkOptic and DSLFixed broadband internet

  SilkOptic and DSL offerings provide Silknet’s fixed internet services. They form part of the company’s broadband business, which is historically linked to its early deployment of fiber-optic connectivity directly to Georgian homes.

• Silk TVIPTV2009

  Silk TV is Silknet’s IPTV service. Introduced in 2009, it included rewind functionality, giving viewers the ability to control or revisit scheduled television content and establishing the service as an early technology-led offering in Georgia.

• Silk-TV DigitalOTT streaming television

  Silk-TV Digital is Silknet’s over-the-top streaming television offering. It extends the company’s television proposition beyond conventional IPTV toward internet-delivered access to television content.

• Global TVSatellite television

  Global TV is identified as Silknet’s satellite television service. It complements the company’s IPTV and OTT television products by using a different distribution technology for television access.

• SilkGoDigital television application2014

  SilkGo is a digital application launched in 2014 for accessing television content on smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices. Its introduction reflected Silknet’s move toward mobile and multiscreen television consumption.

• 2018Acquisition of GeocellM&A

  Silknet sought to expand its integrated telecommunications portfolio by adding a major mobile communications business to its fixed broadband, television, and telephony operations.

  What changed. Silknet acquired Geocell in a transaction described as the largest acquisition of a company in Georgia.

  Aftermath. Geocell and S1 became part of Silknet’s mobile communications portfolio, strengthening the company’s position as a multi-service Georgian telecommunications operator.

  Source
• 2014Acquisition of an 85 percent stake in GMGM&A

  Silknet expanded from telecommunications into television network ownership by acquiring a majority stake in GMG, which operated six film and sports channels.

  What changed. The company purchased 85 percent of GMG. The network was later known as GMN.

  Aftermath. Silknet acquired the remaining 15 percent in 2016, completing its ownership of the television network.

  Source

• 2018Silknet acquires Geocell

  Silknet acquired Geocell, a major Georgian mobile operator. The transaction was described as the largest acquisition of a company in Georgia and expanded Silknet’s mobile communications business.

  M&A
  Source
• 2016Silknet completes acquisition of the remaining GMG stake

  Silknet acquired the remaining 15 percent stake in GMG, later known as GMN, after purchasing an 85 percent interest in the television network in 2014.

  M&A
  Source
• 2014Silknet acquires majority stake in GMG television network

  Silknet acquired an 85 percent interest in GMG, a Georgian television network operating six film and sports channels. The network was later known as GMN.

  M&A
  Source
• 2014Silknet launches SilkGo television application

  Silknet introduced SilkGo, a digital application intended to provide access to television content on smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices.

  Product launch
  Source

1. Silknet