NSR’s Latest Report Projects $2 Billion Optical Satcom Market Driven by Non-GEO Constellations
Potential 6,000+ Laser Communication Terminal Opportunity through Next Decade
Cambridge, MA– February 8th, 2022- NSR’s newly released Optical Satellite Communications, 4th Edition (OSC4) projects a $2 Billion Optical Satcom market for equipment, driven primarily by upcoming Non-GEO constellations. As Optical Satcom growth trends upwards at a 47% CAGR, projected demand reaches 6,000+ laser communication terminal (LCT) units over the next decade.
Optical Satcom is situated to significantly impact both core commercial Satellite Applications industries- Communications and Earth Observation. LCTs enable transition into higher bandwidth services for satcom and deliver a robust backbone network for backhaul and trunking services via mesh connectivity and lower latency. Similarly, Optical offerings provide high bandwidth pipes for data downlink, meeting next generation Earth Observation satellite demands as increasing sensor resolution and ever more satellites lead to need for higher data rates for download.
“While the Optical Satcom market sits on the cusp of growth, there is still a long road ahead,” states report co- author Shivaprakash Muruganandham. “Few vendors have production facilities with high volume LCT manufacturing capabilities, and even fewer have legacy hardware.” Pricing also remains a challenge, given current low order volumes,” Muruganandham adds. “Yet, significant growth is on the horizon with constellation launches driving demand in the near to mid-term.”
“Short term adoption of Optical in Earth Observation will be driven by many operators, with some focused on interoperability with the U.S. Space Development Agency’s constellation, for instance,” notes report co-author Prachi Kawade “Data relay service providers also have a role to play here in the initial phases of adoption. Standardization will further the case for this market as modularity of terminals and inter-operability bring improved flexibility for spacecraft.”
In the near-term, opportunity is equipment-centric; however, as more LCT-equipped satellites launch, market potential expands. The foundations are being laid for future satcom and relay services, such as with quantum communications and low latency downlink, creating a strong long-term outlook.
About the Report
NSR’s Optical Satellite Communications, 4th Edition (OSC4) report is the only industry report to analysis the evolving space-based laser communication ecosystem, taking a deep dive into key demand drivers and restraints, for both space-to-space and space-to-ground links types. OSC4 provides a comprehensive evaluation of the market, exploring the role of Optical satellite communications in the Satellite Constellations & Earth Observation downlinks and data relay markets.
For additional information on this report, including a full table of contents, list of exhibits and executive summary, please visit www.nsr.com or call NSR at +1-617-674-7743.
Companies and Organizations Mentioned in NSR’s OSC4
Airbus, Amazon, Hedron, Archangel Lightworks, Astrogate Labs, Atlas Space Operations, AxelSpace, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp, BlackSky, Bridgecomm, Cailabs, Capella Space, Centre Nationale d’Études Spatiales (CNES), Chang Guang Satellite Technology, Cloud Constellation, DARPA, DLR, Edmund Optics, EOSDS, European Space Agency (ESA), General Atomics, GHGSat, GomSpace, Honeywell, ICEYE, Inmarsat, JAXA, KSAT, KTSat, L3-Harris, Laser Fleet, LaserLight Communications, Lockheed Martin, Maersk, Lyteloop, mBryonics, MDA, Momentus Space, Mynaric AG, NASA, NCKU Tainan, Nokia Bell Labs, Odysseus Space, Planet, Planewave Instruments, QinetiQ, RBC Signals, Rocket Lab, Sinclair Interplanetary, SKY Perfect JSAT, Skyloom, Sony CSL, Space Development Agency (SDA), Space Micro, Space Union, Spacebelt, SpaceLink, SpaceX, SpeQtral Communications, Spire, SSC, Starlight Ventures, Synspective, Telesat, TESAT-Spacecom, Thales Alenia Space, TNO, Transcelestial Technologies, U.S. Air Force Research Lab, U.S. Space Force, Warpspace, X-Lumin, Xenesis
About NSR
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