Catenaa, Friday, January 02, 2026- Satellite communications emerged as a central element of global telecoms in 2025, moving beyond standalone solutions to integrated components of hybrid terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, industry analysts say.
Network operators increasingly see satellites reinforcing service reliability and providing redundancy for 5G, creating mainstream applications that combine fibre, terrestrial 5G, and non-terrestrial networks.
Japan demonstrated seamless handover between terrestrial and satellite networks during a 5G-satellite trial involving five organizations, highlighting the potential for global adoption.
Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite and Direct-to-Device (D2D) services expanded rapidly. Orange integrated Eutelsat LEO services, Amazon launched Ultra customer terminals connecting users directly to satellites, and Rogers tested its Rogers Satellite beta service.
AST SpaceMobile, OQ Technology, and Rakuten Mobile also advanced D2D capabilities, including satellite video calling. These developments point to growing global adoption beyond traditional providers like Starlink.
The sector saw significant consolidation and strategic moves. Cobham merged with Gatehouse Satcom, SES acquired Intelsat for €2.8 billion, and AST SpaceMobile added S-Band spectrum.
Military and government applications expanded, including Eutelsat’s €1 billion deal with the French military and UK ARTES funding totaling £6.9 million.
Iridium, Qualcomm, and Globalstar entered R&D and operational partnerships for defense and secure communications.
Analysts project LEO constellation revenues to reach $15 billion in 2026, driven by technology advances and strategic partnerships.
The sector is expected to mature with scale, spectrum ownership, and integration critical to competitiveness.
Observers predict 2026 will bring further growth, innovation, and wider adoption of hybrid satellite-terrestrial communications.
