Medium and Large Satellite Market Report 2025

This report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The medium and large satellite market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $214.6 billion in 2024 to $225.79 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing demand for military reconnaissance and communication applications, increasing demand for medium and large satellites from the space industry, increasing demand for satellite-based services, rising investment in the space industry, increasing demand for broadband internet access.

The medium and large satellite market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $262.83 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing utility of satellite imaging for homeland security and defense, growing demand for high-speed internet, growing need for better communication infrastructure, growing demand for high-resolution imaging capabilities for applications such as earth observation, agriculture, growing need of remote sensing applications. Major trends in the forecast period include development of 3D printed lightweight satellite components, miniaturization of satellites, high-throughput satellites, inter-satellite communication networks, next-generation communication satellites.

The growing demand for improved communication infrastructure is expected to drive the growth of the medium and large satellite market. Communication infrastructure refers to the essential networks and technologies that enable the smooth exchange of information. As technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and 5G networks continue to evolve, the need for a robust communication infrastructure becomes increasingly critical. This infrastructure supports faster and more reliable data transmission between satellites and ground stations, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of satellite operations. For example, in February 2024, the Canadian Radio, Television, and Telecommunications Commission, a government agency based in Canada, reported a 3.5% rise in total revenues within the country's telecommunications sector in 2022, closely aligning with the 3.4% growth seen in 2021. Therefore, the rising need for advanced communication infrastructure is a key factor driving the expansion of the medium and large satellite market.

Major companies operating in the medium and large satellite market are focusing on developing new technologies, such as ground-to-satellite connectivity feature in satellite to advance their service offering. Ground-to-satellite connectivity refers to the communication link between ground stations on Earth and satellites in space. For instance, in January 2023, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a US-based manufacturer of digital wireless telecommunication products and services, launched Snapdragon Satellite. This is the world's first satellite-based two-way messaging solution for luxury smartphones. Snapdragon Satellite is powered by Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF Systems and supported by the Iridium satellite constellation, which is currently fully operational and is anticipated to offer worldwide access through mobile messaging from all over the world.

In January 2024, Airbus SE, a Netherlands-based aircraft manufacturing commercial company acquired Eutelsat OneWeb for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is expected to strengthen Airbus's position in the medium and large satellite market, as it will allow the company to focus on maximizing efficiency and increasing competitiveness in the production of satellites for institutional, national security, and commercial space customers. Eutelsat OneWeb is a UK-based company that offers a wide range of satellite communication services, including video broadcasting, satellite newsgathering, broadband services, data connectivity, and connecting airplanes and ships.

Major companies operating in the medium and large satellite market are The Boeing Company, The Lockheed Martin Corporation, Airbus SE, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Safran Electronics & Defense, Thales Group, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, EchoStar Corporation, Sierra Nevada Corporation, DigitalGlobe, Maxar Technologies Inc., RUAG Space, OHB SE, Rocket Lab USA Inc., Arianespace SA, UrtheCast, AMOS Spacecom, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., GomSpace Aps, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the medium and large satellite market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the medium and large satellite market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the medium and large satellite market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The medium and large satellite market consists of sales of communication satellites, earth observation satellites, scientific research satellites, defense and intelligence satellites. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

Medium and large satellites refer to is a man-made object or vehicle that is placed into orbit around a celestial body, such as the Earth or another planet. Medium satellites are those that weigh between 500 kilograms (about 1,100 pounds) to 1,000 kilograms (about 2,200 pounds), and large satellites are generally classified as weighing more than 1,000 kilograms. They are designed to perform tasks such as providing communications, monitoring navigation, and high-bandwidth data connectivity to service providers, government agencies, and commercial enterprises, among others.

The main types of propulsion of medium and large satellite are chemical propulsion, and electrical propulsion. Chemical propulsion is a method of spacecraft propulsion that uses chemical reactions to release energy and accelerate gases, generating thrust. They enter into low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and other orbits for earth observation, navigation and global positioning, communication, and others. The end uses are for commercial, government, and military.

The main types of propulsion of medium and large satellite are chemical propulsion, and electrical propulsion. Chemical propulsion is a method of spacecraft propulsion that uses chemical reactions to release energy and accelerate gases, generating thrust. They enter into low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and other orbits for earth observation, navigation and global positioning, communication, and others. The end uses are for commercial, government, and military.

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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