A few days ago, SpaceX launched payloads into orbit for the 100th time. An impressive milestone, the latest launch deployed 60 Starlink satellites into the company’s communication network. From communications to Earth Observation, constellations certainly are a core strategy in the commercialization of LEO. On an almost daily basis, announcements are made regarding investment, deployment,.
NSR’s 5G via Satellite: Impacts, Demand and Revenue Potential to 2029 report, released today, forecasts deep 5G impact in the satellite ecosystem with close to 10 Million active units by 2029.
The ground segment has therefore become a strategic network element for both operators and service providers, NSR says.
This has been a very hard year for a lot of industries, include the satellite industry. From grounded flights and shored-up cruises, bankruptcies and layoffs, COVID-19 has strongly impacted the entire satellite industry. However, while most of the market is experiencing a downturn, consolidation, and restructuring thanks to the pandemic, Earth Observation has demonstrated strong resiliency. In fact, in some cases, the market is growing.
With 5 players racing to launch their LEO/MEO fleets in SpaceX, OneWeb, SES, Amazon and Telesat, and with first 4 committing financially, the satcom world is finally acknowledging the Non-GEO shift.