Introduction
The satellite and space industry is currently undergoing a period of significant transformation, characterized by the full operational deployment of mega-constellations, the integration of non-terrestrial networks with terrestrial infrastructure, and a renewed focus on sovereign capabilities. In response to these market dynamics, the Analysys Mason Space practice has structured its 2026 research agenda to address the critical strategic, technical, and commercial challenges facing stakeholders.
The following review consolidates the primary areas of focus and key client enquiries across the firm’s dedicated research programs. It provides a comprehensive overview of the topics that will define the space economy in the year ahead.
Satellite Broadband
The broadband sector is shifting focus from the deployment of infrastructure to the commercial realities of a multi-orbit marketplace.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- LEO Constellation Disruption: Assessing the market impact as LEO systems like Starlink and Kuiper reach full operational capability.
- Operator Adoption: Analyzing strategies for terrestrial operators to integrate satellite services into their portfolios.
- Service Differentiation: Moving beyond simple connectivity to offer managed services and specialized pricing models.
- Market Segmentation: Sizing opportunities across enterprise, consumer, and backhaul verticals.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- What are enterprises’ key considerations for connectivity solutions in various verticals?
- What are the key requirements and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) beyond availability for banking and critical applications?
- When are players such as Kuiper, Telesat, and Thousand Sails expected to be fully operational, and what trends will emerge as they do?
- How can multi-orbit offerings be differentiated to maintain competitiveness?
Government and Military Space
Defense and government sectors are prioritizing security, resilience, and sovereignty, driving demand for hybrid architectures.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Sovereign LEO Capabilities: Analysis of the projected USD80 billion in committed funding for sovereign LEO projects such as IRIS² and the PWSA.
- Multi-Orbit Integration: The shift from simple connectivity to secure, orchestrated multi-orbit solutions.
- Commercial-Military Fusion: How commercial innovations (e.g., Starshield) are reshaping defense procurement.
- Geopolitical Instability: The impact of regional conflicts on space revenue and investment.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- How can service operators and providers capture new business in the government sector?
- How are geopolitical instabilities affecting the outlook for the space market?
- Which innovations are driving engagement by government and military customers?
- How do different geographical regions vary in their approach to space sector investment?
Satellite Mobility
Mobility markets are adapting to the availability of high-throughput, low-latency capacity, forcing changes in pricing and service delivery.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Multi-Orbit Networks: Technologies and standards for integrating GEO, MEO, and LEO assets for maritime and aero mobility.
- Pricing & Competition: The erosion of traditional bandwidth margins and the shift to flat-rate pricing models.
- Value-Added Services: Diversification into managed IT, cyber security, and vessel optimization.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- How are GEO operators integrating Starlink into their offerings, and what is the pricing strategy for these hybrid services?
- How can a GEO operator define its go-to-market strategy for launching maritime services in new regions?
- How ready is the land-mobile market, and what are the key barriers to development?
- How is free Wi-Fi shaping requirements and demand in the in-flight connectivity market?
Satellite Capacity
The capacity market faces continued pressure from LEO supply, requiring GEO operators to innovate in technology and business models.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Supply & Demand Dynamics: Sizing market opportunities by orbit, region, and vertical.
- LEO Disruption: The ongoing pricing pressure from non-GEO capacity and the strategic response of GEO operators.
- Technology Differentiation: The role of software-defined satellites, cloud services, and AI in capacity management.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- Which trends are influencing demand for GEO-HTS Ku-band in specific regions like South America and Asia?
- How is spot pricing expected to change in the short term across key markets?
- What value-added services offer true differentiation in a commoditized capacity market?
- Do we foresee more GEO capacity being launched, or a shift to small-GEO offerings?
Space Ground Segment
Ground infrastructure is undergoing a necessary modernization to support the complexity of multi-orbit and software-defined networks.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Virtualization: The move toward virtualized ground stations and software-defined networking.
- Standardization: Adoption of standards like DIFI and 3GPP to ensure interoperability.
- Terminal Innovation: Developments in flat-panel antennas (FPAs) and multi-orbit equipment.
- Orchestration: The use of AI tools for efficient network coordination.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- What is the revenue opportunity for satcom ground infrastructure across different applications and bands?
- How can equipment vendors thrive in an environment with increased vertical integration?
- What technological requirements and standards must vendors adopt to serve next-generation networks?
- How could telecoms vendors use existing capabilities to enter the satellite ground market?
Earth Observation (EO)
The EO sector is transitioning from a data-provider model to an insight-provider model, heavily leveraging AI.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Data & Analytics Trends: The shift from raw imagery to value-added information products.
- Cloud & AI: The integration of cloud services for EO data processing and AI-driven analytics.
- Sovereignty: The rise of sovereign EO constellations outside North America.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- How can AI increase value or improve operational efficiency for clients?
- What are the strongest use cases for optical, SAR, and non-imagery data?
- What business models (e.g., satellite-as-a-service) are operators adopting to win in this market?
- How is the push for sovereignty redefining government interest, and how can commercial players capitalize on it?
Satellite Direct-to-Device (D2D)
D2D is moving from hype to commercial reality, with a focus on revenue generation for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Revenue Generation: Assessing the real-world revenue impact for MNOs (projected at roughly 1% increase for early adopters).
- Consumer Adoption: Tracking consumer interest and willingness to pay for D2D messaging and data.
- Spectrum & Regulation: The complexities of spectrum rights and regulatory approval for services like Starlink and AST SpaceMobile.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- What is the realistic revenue uplift for MNOs bundling D2D services?
- How does consumer interest in D2D influence churn reduction and retention?
- Which technical models (proprietary vs. standards-based) will dominate the initial rollout?
Satellite Manufacturing and Launch
The upstream sector is defined by the resolution of launch bottlenecks and the consolidation of supply chains.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Sovereign Launch Capability: The breaking of launch monopolies in Europe and the rise of new sovereign vehicles.
- Supply Chain Consolidation: Mergers and acquisitions among suppliers seeking scale.
- Launch Bottlenecks: The easing of launch constraints with the entry of vehicles like Ariane 6 and Vulcan.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- How will sovereign launch requirements impact the commercial launch market availability?
- Will new medium-lift vehicles successfully reach commercial viability in 2026?
- How will consolidation in the manufacturing sector affect satellite costs and lead times?
Emerging Space Applications
This program focuses on the next frontier of the space economy, assessing the feasibility of in-orbit industrialization.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Space Data Centres: Technical and economic feasibility studies of orbital data processing.
- In-Orbit Services (IOS): Market potential for life extension, active debris removal, and orbital manufacturing.
- Sustainability: The economic and regulatory drivers for sustainable space operations.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- Are space data centers technically feasible and economically competitive with ground-based alternatives?
- What is the timeline for the commercial viability of in-orbit servicing missions?
- How will sustainability regulations impact the cost of space operations?
Non-GEO Constellations Analysis Toolkit
A data-centric program dedicated to benchmarking the performance of the growing number of non-geostationary systems.
- Areas of Focus in 2026
- Benchmarking: Data-driven assessment of LEO/MEO constellation performance (latency, throughput, coverage).
- Simulation: Modeling supply and demand dynamics for mega-constellations.
- Competitive Intelligence: Comparing non-GEO systems against terrestrial and GEO alternatives.
- Associated Questions & Key Enquiries
- How do specific LEO constellations compare in terms of coverage persistence and bandwidth supply?
- What are the business-case sensitivities for new non-GEO operators?
- How does a constellation’s technical design impact its commercial addressability?
Summary and Strategic Outlook
The Analysys Mason research agenda for 2026 reflects a space industry that is rapidly maturing from an era of experimentation to one of integration and commercial sustainability. The recurring themes across all programs indicate that the “siloed” space market is disappearing; space is becoming an intrinsic component of the broader telecommunications and defense ecosystems.
Key strategic takeaways for the coming year include:
- The Primacy of Multi-Orbit Strategies: Whether in mobility, government, or broadband, the ability to orchestrate traffic across LEO, MEO, and GEO is no longer optional but a baseline requirement for competitiveness.
- Sovereignty as a Market Driver: Governments are emerging as critical anchor tenants, not just for defense, but for the development of sovereign launch, earth observation, and secure communications capabilities.
- The Shift to Value-Added Services: As raw bandwidth pricing continues to decline due to LEO supply, revenue growth will increasingly depend on specialized services, including cyber security, managed network integration, and AI-driven analytics.
Stakeholders across the value chain – from manufacturers to service providers – must address these shifts to navigate the complex competitive landscape of 2026.
