by Blaine Curcio

t’s been a wild year in China’s satellite communications (satcom) market. The country has seen rapid growth in the number of comms satellites launched, a host of regulatory developments in the Direct-to-Device (D2D) and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) space, and jockeying for position among two major Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) projects. The three main themes of 2025 have been the ascendance of China SatNet, question marks surrounding SpaceSail, and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) being used for all sorts of creative things. For a whole lot more information on China’s NGSO constellations, get in touch about the China NGSO Constellations Report, published by Orbital Gateway Consulting in December 2025. 

Traditionally, the mission profile and business model for satellites was determined by the operators and customers before the manufacturing process began. This approach was successful for decades, but the transformation of the communications sector requires the satellite world to evolve as well. Going forward, the flexibility of software-defined satellites (SDS) promises to transform how satellite operators design, deploy and manage space segment. 

The World Teleport Association (WTA) today published its annual rankings for the Top Teleport Operators of 2025. The annual rankings of companies by revenue and revenue growth are compiled by surveying teleport operators around the world as well as referencing the published results of publicly-held companies.

Markets and Markets released a report "Satellite Launch Vehicle Market by Vehicle (Small (<350,000 Kg), Medium to Heavy (>350,000 Kg)), Payload (<500 Kg, 500-2,500 Kg, >2,500 Kg), Orbit, Launch, Stage, Subsystem, Service and Region - Global Forecast to 2027", The Satellite launch vehicle market is estimated to be US$ 15.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 29.1 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 13.1% during the forecast period.

Global tech strategists Juniper Research today released its Top 10 Emerging Tech Trends for 2026; revealing how frontier technologies such as post-quantum cryptography, neuromorphic computing, and physical AI are expected to shape enterprise strategy and investment over the coming year.

The World Teleport Association (WTA) today released Serving the Software-Defined Satellite Market of the Future, a new research report that explores the coming technology and service requirements for serving SD satellites, the probable timeline for SD satellite expansion and the investment case for change.

Novaspace’s 6th Ground Segment Market Prospects  report projects a US$ 106 Billion market and a fundamental shift in satellite infrastructure economics. NGSO constellations are reshaping Satcom, Earth Observation (EO), and Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) into a flexible, software‑driven ecosystem.  

Novaspace’s release today it's latest report on  FSS Operators: Benchmarks & Performance Review which unveils a year of transformation for satellite operators. 

A new study by global tech strategist Juniper Research has found satellite provider revenue from direct-to-cell (D2C) will exceed US$ 370 million in 2026; up from US$ 100 million this year. This substantial single-year growth of more than 260% is fuelled by growing partnerships between mobile network operators (MNOs) and satellite operators, which are rolling out services that let subscribers connect to satellite networks using standard, unmodified smartphones.

Novaspace, the global consulting and market-intelligence firm dedicated to the space sector, announces the opening of its new office in India, marking a strategic milestone in its mission to connect global expertise with one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-evolving space ecosystems. Building on more than 40 years of heritage in advising governments, space agencies, and industry leaders, Novaspace’s expansion into India reflects both a commitment to local collaboration and a vision for global impact.