Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Satellite Market Report 2025

The medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $5.03 billion in 2024 to $5.54 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%. During the historic period, growth was driven by rising demand for navigation and positioning services, the expansion of global communication networks, an increasing number of navigation satellites, greater usage in aviation and maritime sectors, and government investments in satellite infrastructure.

The medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $8.02 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%. During the forecast period, growth is expected to be driven by the increasing adoption of satellite-based navigation systems, rising demand for broadband and connectivity services, expansion of global positioning applications, growth of commercial medium Earth orbit satellite constellations, and greater focus on hybrid low Earth orbit-medium Earth orbit satellite networks. Key trends include advancements in optical communication technology, innovations in satellite propulsion systems, development of software-defined satellites, research on artificial intelligence for satellite operations, and progress in cloud-based satellite management systems.

The growing demand for broadband internet services is expected to drive the medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite market. Broadband internet provides high-speed, always-on access, enabling rapid data transmission across multiple devices and applications. This demand is fueled by users seeking reliable connectivity for uninterrupted communication, support for data-intensive applications, and smooth digital experiences with minimal delays. MEO satellites facilitate broadband services by delivering wide coverage and lower latency compared to geostationary systems, ensuring fast and dependable connectivity, particularly in underserved areas. For example, in 2023, 72% of US homes had both mobile and fixed internet connections, up from 69% in 2021, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This trend is contributing to the growth of the MEO satellite market.

Leading companies in the medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite market are prioritizing technological innovations, such as redesigned payload power modules, to improve satellite efficiency, reliability, and capacity, enabling scalable, high-performance connectivity services. These upgraded power systems optimize the distribution and management of electrical energy for payload operations, enhancing overall satellite performance. For example, in December 2024, Luxembourg-based SES S.A. launched its seventh and eighth O3b mPOWER satellites, expanding its MEO constellation to deliver flexible, high-performance connectivity worldwide. These advancements enhance data throughput, reduce latency, and support advanced applications across industries, although they may involve higher deployment costs and complex integration. Such improvements strengthen SES’s position in the global broadband market by providing resilient, multi-orbit connectivity solutions.

In September 2024, Sharp Corporation, a Japan-based electronics company, partnered with Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. to develop lightweight satellite communication antennas for medium Earth orbit (MEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) applications, aiming to enhance maritime connectivity. Sharp Corporation contributes its expertise in miniaturization and communication technologies to jointly create small, lightweight antennas suitable for LEO and MEO satellites. Furuno Electric Co., Ltd., also based in Japan, specializes in satellite communication equipment, particularly ground antennas for receiving signals from MEO satellites.

Major players in the medium earth orbit (meo) satellite market are The Boeing Company, Airbus SE, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, BAE Systems plc, Blue Origin LLC, Viasat Inc., Thales Alenia Space S.A.S., SES S.A., Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), OHB SE, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Hughes Network Systems LLC, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., Hispasat S.A., Eutelsat OneWeb Ltd., Exolaunch GmbH.

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

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites are space-based systems located between low Earth orbit and geostationary Earth orbit, typically at altitudes of 2,000 to 35,786 kilometers. They are commonly used for communication, navigation, and Earth observation, offering broader coverage, lower latency, and more reliable signals.

Key components of MEO satellites include the payload, transponder, solar panels, thermal control system, and propulsion system. The payload consists of the primary instruments or equipment designed for the satellite’s mission, such as communication transponders, sensors, or cameras, excluding supporting subsystems. Technologies integrated into these satellites include radio frequency systems, optical communication, software-defined networking, cloud-based solutions, and artificial intelligence for satellite operations. Satellite masses typically range from 100-500 kilograms, 500-1000 kilograms, to over 1000 kilograms. MEO satellites serve applications in communication, Earth observation, navigation, and other fields, and are used by commercial, military, government, and other end users.

The medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market statistics, including the medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market share, detailed medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite industry. This medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as launch services, satellite maintenance services, ground station services, satellite control services, data processing services, satellite integration services, consulting services, training services, and lifecycle management services. The medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite market also includes sales of satellite bus, antennas, power distribution units, onboard computers, star trackers, reaction wheels, gyroscopes, batteries, sensors, and harness assemblies. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods and services 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 and services in this market includes related operational and support 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).

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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