According to a whitepaper by ABI Research, the Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) mobile connections worldwide are expected to surpass 175 million by 2030. The growing adoption of satellite services in the communication sector is driving this trend, as satellite constellations are deployed to provide low-latency, high-throughput network applications and expand terrestrial network coverage. This shift is projected to generate annual satellite services revenue of US$124.6 billion by the end of the decade.

The convergence of satellite communications and terrestrial cellular networks has caught the attention of notable satellite operators, thanks to the initiative of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). This fusion of technologies presents a significant market opportunity. Smartphone manufacturers and chipset makers are also making moves to support consumer-grade devices that can utilize satellite communications through Narrowband (NB)-NTN, NTN unmodified, and eventually, 5G New Radio (NR)-NTN.

The smaller form factor of satellites, reduced launch costs due to reusable rockets by SpaceX, and standardized satellite bus and payload design are contributing factors to the growth of this market. These developments have made it more affordable to launch satellites into orbit, expanding the availability of SatCom services to a wider audience.

For SatCom providers, mobile operators, and technology vendors, the IoT and NTN mobile technologies have opened up significant opportunities in the US$124.6 billion satellite services market. To learn more about these opportunities, ABI Research’s whitepaper “The Ascending Satellite NTN Market” provides in-depth insights.

ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm that offers actionable research and strategic guidance to technology leaders, innovators, and decision-makers worldwide. Their research focuses on transformative technologies that are reshaping industries, economies, and workforces.