Mobile Satellite Service Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast. Segmented By Type (Land MSS, Aeronautical MSS, Broadband MSS, Maritime MSS and Personal MSS), By Sales Channel (Offline and Online), By Application (Military & Defense, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Media & Entertainment, Transportation & Automotive, Government, Mining and Others), By Region, By Company and By Geography, Forecast & Opportunities, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.13 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.24%
Fastest Growing Segment	Aviation
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 9.86 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Mobile Satellite Service Market will grow from USD 6.13 Billion in 2025 to USD 9.86 Billion by 2031 at a 8.24% CAGR. Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) are telecommunication systems that provide two-way voice and data connectivity to portable user terminals, vessels, aircraft, and vehicles via satellite networks, ensuring communication in regions beyond the reach of terrestrial infrastructure. The market is primarily propelled by the critical need for reliable disaster management communications and the growing demand for continuous connectivity in the maritime and aviation sectors. Additionally, the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) necessitates global satellite coverage for asset tracking and remote monitoring, further supporting industry growth.

A significant challenge impeding market expansion is the scarcity of available radio spectrum, which creates complex regulatory hurdles and limits the bandwidth available for emerging services. According to the Satellite Industry Association, in 2024, satellite broadband revenue increased by 29 percent, reflecting the intensifying global demand for resilient space-based connectivity solutions. This growth highlights the increasing reliance on satellite infrastructure to bridge connectivity gaps worldwide.

Key Market Drivers

The rapid advancement of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations is a primary force reshaping the mobile satellite service landscape by significantly reducing latency and increasing bandwidth capacity. Unlike traditional geostationary systems, LEO networks operate closer to Earth, enabling real-time voice and data applications necessary for modern mobility. This architectural shift has facilitated a massive surge in orbital infrastructure deployment to support continuous global coverage. According to the Satellite Industry Association, June 2024, in the '2024 State of the Satellite Industry Report', a total of 2,781 commercial satellites were deployed during 2023, illustrating the aggressive scale-up of networks designed to support next-generation connectivity. This physical expansion is critical for maintaining consistent service quality across maritime, aviation, and land-mobile sectors where signal interruptions were previously a barrier to adoption.

Simultaneously, the integration of Mobile Satellite Services with terrestrial 5G through Direct-to-Device (D2D) technologies is expanding the addressable user base beyond specialized industrial clients. This convergence allows unmodified smartphones and IoT devices to switch seamlessly between cellular and satellite networks, addressing coverage gaps in remote areas without requiring expensive, proprietary hardware. According to a press release by Skylo Technologies, February 2024, the firm secured $37 million to expand its Non-Terrestrial Network platform, which facilitates this direct connectivity for consumer devices and satellite IoT. The commercial traction of such services contributes to the sustained financial performance of major market operators; according to Iridium Communications, February 2024, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Financial Results', the company reported a total annual revenue of $791 million, reflecting the steady demand for reliable mobile satellite voice and data solutions.

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Key Market Challenges

The scarcity of available radio spectrum creates a formidable barrier to the expansion of the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market. As a finite natural resource, the radio frequency spectrum faces unprecedented congestion due to the simultaneous proliferation of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) constellations and terrestrial wireless networks. This saturation forces regulatory bodies to impose stringent licensing procedures and complex coordination requirements to prevent signal interference. Consequently, market participants face extended timelines for service deployment and escalated compliance costs, which directly stifles the introduction of new bandwidth-intensive applications.

This challenge is exacerbated by the sheer volume of hardware being deployed, which intensifies the competition for limited frequency allocations. According to the Satellite Industry Association, at the end of 2024, a total of 11,539 satellites were operating in Earth orbit. This massive density of orbital assets places immense strain on the spectral environment, making it increasingly difficult for operators to secure the necessary bandwidth for reliable global coverage. Without sufficient spectrum availability, operators cannot scale their networks effectively, limiting the market’s ability to meet the surging demand for ubiquitous mobile connectivity.

Key Market Trends

The Expansion of Satellite-Based IoT and M2M Ecosystems is rapidly evolving into a specialized industrial market segment, distinct from the consumer-focused direct-to-device trend. This growth is driven by the deployment of robust tracking and telemetry solutions for sectors such as transportation, energy, and utilities, which require consistent low-power data transmission for automated asset management. Unlike smartphone-centric hybrid connectivity, this trend focuses on dedicated machine-to-machine networks that ensure operational visibility in remote environments, generating significant high-margin service revenue for operators. According to Globalstar, February 2025, in the '2024 Financial Results', the company achieved a record annual service revenue for Commercial IoT, representing a 15 percent increase from the prior year, highlighting the accelerating commercial adoption of these industrial satellite monitoring solutions.

Simultaneously, the Adoption of High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) Technologies is reshaping the market by delivering the massive bandwidth capacity necessary for data-intensive applications. By utilizing spot beam architectures and frequency reuse, HTS platforms provide significantly higher spectral efficiency and throughput compared to traditional wide-beam satellites, addressing the critical volume requirements of the commercial aviation and maritime sectors. This focus on maximizing capacity per orbital slot allows operators to serve bandwidth-heavy users that require continuous high-speed data streams, a capability that complements low-latency constellations. According to Viasat, May 2025, in the 'Annual Report', the firm reported a record fiscal year 2025 revenue of $4.5 billion, a financial performance directly underpinned by the scale of its high-throughput fleet supporting global mobility and government communications.

Segmental Insights

The aviation segment currently represents the fastest-growing category within the Global Mobile Satellite Service market, driven by the intensifying demand for reliable in-flight connectivity and operational data exchange. Commercial airlines and business operators are increasingly adopting satellite networks to ensure continuous communication over oceans and remote regions where terrestrial infrastructure is absent. Furthermore, safety modernization initiatives supported by regulatory bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration necessitate robust satellite links for real-time air traffic management and aircraft health monitoring, thereby fueling the rapid adoption of these services across the industry.

Regional Insights

North America dominates the global mobile satellite service market due to substantial investments in defense and telecommunications infrastructure. The region benefits from high adoption rates by government agencies, particularly the U.S. Department of Defense, which utilizes satellite solutions for secure operations in remote environments. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission supports market expansion through favorable spectrum allocation policies that encourage industry growth. This demand is further strengthened by the maritime and aviation sectors requiring consistent connectivity across vast territories, ensuring North America remains the primary revenue generator in this sector.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Globalstar finalized a significant expanded service agreement with Apple, which included a commitment of $1.5 billion in total funding to the satellite operator. This arrangement involved an upfront payment of $1.1 billion for infrastructure improvements and a $400 million investment for a 20% equity stake in the company. The deal was structured to support the launch of a new mobile satellite services constellation and expanded ground infrastructure, with Globalstar agreeing to allocate 85% of its network capacity to its partner. This collaboration underscored the increasing financial scale and strategic importance of direct-to-device partnerships within the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market.
• In February 2024, Thuraya Telecommunications Company unveiled the "Skyphone by Thuraya," a new smartphone featuring built-in satellite connectivity, during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This device was developed to provide users with everyday smartphone functionality while offering satellite calls and SMS capabilities across the company's extensive footprint in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. By integrating satellite technology directly into a consumer-friendly Android smartphone, the company addressed the demand for hybrid connectivity solutions in the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market. The product was positioned to serve both consumer and business sectors requiring reliable communication in areas lacking terrestrial coverage.
• In January 2024, Iridium Communications announced "Project Stardust," a strategic evolution of its direct-to-device strategy utilizing 5G standards-based Narrowband-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) non-terrestrial network technology. This initiative was designed to deploy a standards-based solution on the company's existing low-Earth orbit satellite network, enabling both proprietary and standardized services for global customers. The company aimed to support 5G messaging and emergency capabilities for smartphones, tablets, and automobiles through this development. This move marked a significant shift towards integrating satellite connectivity with standard consumer devices in the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market, with testing anticipated to commence in 2025.
• In January 2024, SpaceX successfully launched its first batch of Starlink satellites equipped with "Direct to Cell" capabilities, aiming to eliminate mobile dead zones worldwide. These satellites were designed to function effectively as cell phone towers in space, allowing for seamless integration with standard LTE phones without requiring changes to hardware or firmware. This launch represented a pivotal step in the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market, as the company initiated testing of text messaging services with mobile operators globally. The deployment highlighted the growing trend of satellite companies partnering with terrestrial mobile network operators to extend connectivity to remote regions.

Key Market Players

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

By Type	By Sales Channel	By Application	By Region
Land MSS Aeronautical MSS Broadband MSS Maritime MSS and Personal MSS	Offline and Online	Military & Defense Aviation Oil & Gas Media & Entertainment Transportation & Automotive Government Mining and Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Mobile Satellite Service Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Mobile Satellite Service Market, By Type:

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

• Mobile Satellite Service Market, By Sales Channel:

• Offline and Online

• Mobile Satellite Service Market, By Application:

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

• Mobile Satellite Service Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE