Satellite Industry Faces Major Shifts as Competition and Tech Reshape Market

The satellite industry is undergoing rapid change as competition intensifies and new technologies reshape the market. By October 2025, 39 operators will have launched high-throughput satellite (HTS) payloads—a threefold increase from ten years ago. Meanwhile, cost pressures and new players are forcing traditional providers to adapt their strategies. The latest report from Novaspace, a consulting firm formed by the merger of Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners, highlights major shifts in the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) sector. The top 10 operators now control over 75% of global revenues, with the leading three alone accounting for 54%. SES, in particular, is expected to dominate more than 40% of the market in the near future.

Vertically integrated operators, which combine satellite manufacturing, launches, and services, generated $17.6 billion in revenues. This far outpaces non-integrated operators, which earned $10.2 billion. The rise of mega-constellations in non-geostationary orbits (NGSO) has pushed 24 operators to adopt multi-orbit strategies, blending traditional GEO satellites with newer NGSO capabilities. The pace of HTS adoption is also accelerating. Five additional operators plan to launch their first GEO HTS payloads within the next three years. Novaspace’s *FSS Operators: Benchmarks & Performance Review* report provides detailed insights into these trends, offering operator-specific benchmarks and market intelligence.

The FSS industry is at a turning point, with vertically integrated operators leading in revenue and market influence. As NGSO constellations expand and cost pressures grow, traditional providers must integrate new technologies or risk falling behind. The next few years will likely see further consolidation and strategic shifts across the sector.