The media reported about Google to sell a satellite picture unit

Alphabet Inc. (Google maternal company) sells a business shooting business, Bloomberg reports citing informed sources.

Negotiations on the sale of Terra Bella (previously SkyBox), the corporation is conducting, according to the agency’s interlocutors, with the Planet Labs startup.

According to Bloomberg, part of the satellite unit under the terms of the transaction will go to work in a new company, some will occupy other positions in Google. The publication does not call the possible amount of the transaction. Representatives of Palnet and Alphabet refused to comment.

The Wall Street Journal also writes about the possible sale of the Planet Labs unit. The publication indicates that Alphabet's satellite business is sold for considerations of savings: buying satellite pictures is cheaper than serving their own satellites and appropriate infrastructure.

Google bought Terra Bella in 2014 for $ 500 million. Bloomberg clarifies that Skybox owns large satellites with cameras that allow you to get high -resolution pictures. Planet has the quality of the pictures lower, but the company has more satellites.

According to information on the Terra Bella website, the company has seven satellites. Planet Labs is founded by former NASA employees, it works with several dozen devices.