Mobile Satellite Service Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Mobile Satellite Service Market is projected to expand from a valuation of USD 6.13 Billion in 2025 to reach USD 9.86 Billion by 2031, exhibiting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.24%. Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) are telecommunications systems designed to deliver two-way voice and data capabilities to portable terminals, aircraft, ships, and vehicles using satellite networks, thereby guaranteeing connectivity in areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure. Market growth is principally driven by the urgent requirement for dependable communications during disaster management and increasing needs for uninterrupted connectivity within the maritime and aviation industries. Furthermore, the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) requires ubiquitous satellite coverage for remote monitoring and asset tracking, providing additional support for industry development.

However, market progression faces a substantial obstacle in the form of limited radio spectrum availability, which results in complicated regulatory barriers and restricts the bandwidth necessary for new services. Highlighting the growing reliance on space-based solutions to close connectivity gaps, the Satellite Industry Association reported in 2024 that satellite broadband revenue grew by 29 percent, indicative of the escalating global demand for robust connectivity. This financial growth underscores the critical role satellite infrastructure plays in addressing communication voids worldwide, despite the regulatory and technical challenges posed by spectrum limitations.

Market Drivers

The deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations is a major factor transforming the mobile satellite service sector by vastly improving bandwidth capacity and minimizing latency. In contrast to traditional geostationary systems, LEO networks function much closer to the planet, supporting real-time voice and data functionalities essential for modern mobile applications.

This structural transition has triggered a massive increase in orbital infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted global coverage; for instance, the Satellite Industry Association's '2024 State of the Satellite Industry Report' from June 2024 noted that 2,781 commercial satellites were launched in 2023, demonstrating the aggressive expansion of networks meant for next-generation connectivity. This physical growth is vital for delivering consistent service quality to land-mobile, aviation, and maritime sectors where signal loss previously hindered adoption.

Concurrently, the convergence of Mobile Satellite Services with terrestrial 5G via Direct-to-Device (D2D) technology is widening the potential user base beyond specialized industrial customers. This integration permits standard smartphones and IoT devices to transition smoothly between cellular and satellite networks, filling remote coverage voids without necessitating costly, proprietary equipment. As evidence of this sector's growth, Skylo Technologies announced in a February 2024 press release that it had raised $37 million to enhance its Non-Terrestrial Network platform, facilitating direct connectivity for satellite IoT and consumer devices. The commercial success of these services bolsters the financial stability of key operators, as seen in Iridium Communications' 'Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Financial Results' from February 2024, which reported total annual revenue of $791 million, reflecting persistent demand for dependable mobile satellite solutions.

Market Challenges

A significant impediment to the growth of the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market is the limited availability of radio spectrum. As a finite natural resource, radio frequency spectrum is experiencing unprecedented congestion caused by the simultaneous expansion of terrestrial wireless networks and non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) constellations. This saturation compels regulatory authorities to enforce rigorous licensing protocols and complicated coordination mandates to avoid signal interference. As a result, market players encounter prolonged timelines for deploying services and increased compliance expenses, which directly hinders the launch of new, bandwidth-heavy applications.

The immense volume of deployed hardware further aggravates this issue by intensifying competition for restricted frequency allocations. According to data from the Satellite Industry Association, there were 11,539 satellites operating in Earth orbit at the close of 2024. This high density of orbital assets exerts tremendous pressure on the spectral environment, rendering it increasingly difficult for operators to obtain the bandwidth required for reliable global coverage. Without adequate spectrum access, operators are unable to scale their networks efficiently, thereby restricting the market's capacity to satisfy the rising demand for ubiquitous mobile connectivity.

Market Trends

The growth of Satellite-Based IoT and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) ecosystems is rapidly developing into a specialized industrial segment that differs from the consumer-oriented direct-to-device movement. This expansion is fueled by the implementation of durable telemetry and tracking solutions for industries like utilities, energy, and transportation, all of which demand reliable, low-power data transmission for automated asset management. Distinct from smartphone-based hybrid connectivity, this trend emphasizes dedicated M2M networks that provide operational visibility in remote locations, generating substantial high-margin revenue for providers. Highlighting the commercial uptake of these industrial monitoring solutions, Globalstar reported in its '2024 Financial Results' from February 2025 that it achieved record annual service revenue for Commercial IoT, marking a 15 percent increase over the previous year.

At the same time, the adoption of High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) technologies is transforming the market by supplying the massive bandwidth capacity required for data-intensive uses. By leveraging frequency reuse and spot beam architectures, HTS platforms deliver superior throughput and spectral efficiency compared to conventional wide-beam satellites, effectively meeting the high-volume demands of the maritime and commercial aviation sectors. This strategy of maximizing capacity per orbital slot enables operators to service bandwidth-hungry users needing continuous high-speed data, complementing low-latency constellations. Underscoring the financial impact of this capability, Viasat's 'Annual Report' from May 2025 announced a record fiscal year 2025 revenue of $4.5 billion, a performance driven by the scale of its high-throughput fleet supporting government communications and global mobility.

Key Players Profiled in the Mobile Satellite Service Market

• Iridium Communications Inc.
• Thuraya Telecommunications Company
• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Tesacom
• EchoStar Corporation
• Inmarsat Limited
• Intelsat
• LOBALSTAR
• ViaSat Inc.
• Telstra
• ORBCOMM

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Mobile Satellite Service Market, by Type:

• Land MSS
• Aeronautical MSS
• Broadband MSS
• Maritime MSS
• Personal MSS

Mobile Satellite Service Market, by Sales Channel:

• Offline
• Online

Mobile Satellite Service Market, by Application:

• Military & Defense
• Aviation
• Oil & Gas
• Media & Entertainment
• Transportation & Automotive
• Government
• Mining
• Others

Mobile Satellite Service Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.