Satellite communication market seen topping $113 billion by 2030

The satellite communication market is forecast to exceed $113 billion by 2030, driven by LEO satellite deployments, expanding broadband demand and defense spending. Asia-Pacific is set to be the fastest-growing region, while transponders remain the largest component segment.

Why it matters: - Satellite communication is moving from a niche connectivity market to a core layer for broadband, defense, mobility and remote operations. - The shift matters because growth is being driven by both commercial demand and government spending, which can reshape infrastructure, spectrum use and competitive positioning.

What happened: - The Business Research Company projected the global satellite communication market will surpass $113 billion by 2030. - The market is forecast to grow at a 11% compound annual growth rate from 2025 to 2030. - Asia-Pacific is expected to be the largest regional market in 2030 at $37 billion. - The United States is projected to remain the largest national market at $30 billion in 2030. - A sample report is available here. - The full report is available here.

The details: - Transponders are expected to generate 33% of total market revenue in 2030, equal to about $37 billion. - The broader component market is projected to add more than $45 billion by 2030. - Between 2025 and 2030, transponders are expected to gain $14 billion, antennas $13 billion, transceivers $10 billion, receivers $5 billion and other components $3 billion. - Asia-Pacific growth is tied to regional satellite programs, broadband demand in underserved areas, defense and maritime communications, and applications in aviation, energy and transportation. - The United States market is supported by next-generation satellite constellations, defense and homeland security demand, private ventures, in-flight and maritime connectivity, satellite manufacturing and nationwide satellite broadband deployment. - LEO constellations are a major growth driver because they support high-speed, low-latency connectivity for broadband, enterprise and mobile use. - LEO investment is increasing demand for transponders, antennas and ground infrastructure. - Broadband expansion in rural and underserved areas is accelerating demand where terrestrial networks are not economical. - Governments and telecom providers are using satellite broadband for education, healthcare, emergency response and e-government services. - Remote industrial users in mining, oil, gas and energy are also increasing satellite dependence. - Defense and national security spending is boosting demand for secure, encrypted and resilient communications for command, control, intelligence, surveillance and tactical operations. - The market is segmented by technology into SATCOM automatic identification systems, SATCOM VSAT, SATCOM on-the-move, SATCOM on-the-pause and SATCOM telemetry. - Applications include asset tracking, airtime services, data backup and recovery, navigation and monitoring, broadcasting, drone connectivity and telemedicine. - End markets include government and military, civil satellite communications and commercial applications. - In November 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation launched CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, the heaviest indigenously built communication satellite in India. - CMS-03 was designed for secure naval communications and includes multi-band capabilities, encrypted links and an extended mission lifespan.

Between the lines: - The market remains fairly fragmented, with the top ten companies accounting for only 11% of revenue in 2025. - Barriers to entry remain moderate because satellite design is complex, spectrum is limited, capital needs are high and mission reliability is critical. - Leading firms are competing through broader satellite portfolios, aerospace and defense partnerships, global networks and product innovation. - Thales Group led global sales in 2025 with a 2% market share, followed by L3Harris Technologies at 2%, Lockheed Martin at 1%, Raytheon Technologies at 1% and Viasat at 1%. - The competitive picture suggests scale still matters, but no single company dominates a market that is being reshaped by LEO deployments and broadband demand.

What's next: - Satellite operators are expected to keep investing in broadband coverage, LEO deployments, network integration and ground infrastructure. - Industry leaders are also pushing into artificial intelligence to improve network efficiency and performance. - The next wave of growth will likely come from integration with 5G and non-terrestrial network architectures. - More companies are expected to compete for share in secure communications, remote connectivity and data transmission as demand broadens across industries.

The bottom line: - Satellite communication is entering a high-growth phase, with LEO constellations, broadband access and defense demand doing most of the heavy lifting.