Commercial Satellite Industry Growing as it Continues to Dominate Expanding Global Space Business – SIA Releases 25th Annual State of the Satellite Industry Report

Washington, D.C., June 29, 2022 –

Satellite Industry Highlights include:

In 2021, despite the pandemic a record number of satellites were launched into orbit during the year as 44% more commercially procured satellites were deployed compared to 2020
Affordability helped lead to a record-breaking number of launches in 2021 with commercial satellite launches increasing by 20 percent
U.S. firms manufactured 87 percent of all commercial satellites procured during 2021
Connected devices continue to dominate ground services with 6.5 billion satellite-enabled global smartphones now in use
Broadband terminal and satellite radio installations increased by over 50 and 38 percent respectively over the past five years
Sustainable satellite activities further emerged as a growing industry segment in 2021

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today announced the release of its 25^th annual State of the Satellite Industry Report (SSIR), a global summary of the commercial satellite industry. For a fourth consecutive year, the commercial satellite industry once again launched a record number of commercial satellites into orbit. A total of 1,713 commercial satellites were deployed during 2021, which increased by more than 40 percent compared to 2020, while the space industry conducted the most launches in history. By the end of 2021, a total of 4,852 satellites circled the earth, an increase of 179 percent over the past five years.

Other takeaways from the 2022 Report include:

During 2021, the overall global space economy generated revenue of $386 billion, an increase of four percent compared to 2020.
The commercial satellite industry once again continued to be dominant, increasing to $279 billion and accounting for 72 percent of the world’s space business.
Satellite Manufacturing – thanks to improved utility, satellite capability and lower manufacturing costs, satellite manufacturing revenue grew to $13.7 billion in 2021 an increase of more than 12 percent compared with 2020.
Launch Services – more affordable launches and launch vehicle innovations led to increased launch activities and a historic high number of global launches in 2021. Global launch revenues were $5.7 billion in 2021, an increase of 8 percent compared to 2020.
Satellite Services – increased telecom capacity, resolution of commercially available imagery and new remote sensing and other services combined to help generate $118 billion in satellite services revenue during 2021, an increase of approximately .4 percent over the previous year.
Satellite Ground Segment – This sector generated revenue of $142 billion in 2021, a 5 percent increase over the previous year. There are now over 6.5 billion satellite-enabled global smartphones in use while broadband terminals and additional global navigation satellite system (GNSS) terminals as well as satellite radio sales are on the rise.
During the year, the commercial satellite industry dominated a widening global space economy, with total satellite industry revenue in 2021 returning to its tradition of annual growth, increasing by three percent compared with the year previous.

“The commercial satellite industry continued to grow in 2021 while dominating the global space economy which also expanded – and all this growth happened during a year still impacted by the global pandemic,” said Tom Stoup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “Thanks to continued leaps in domestic innovation, U.S. market share in manufacturing and launch services increased with American firms building approximately 87 percent of commercially procured satellites launched last year while earning 54 percent of satellite manufacturing revenues.

“Over the past five years, record numbers of satellites have been deployed, costs to manufacture and launch have decreased while utility has increased – all leading to increased affordability, productivity and new markets. Despite all these new benefits, we must not forget that only the satellite industry can deliver truly ubiquitous, high quality, reliable and often critical emergency space-based services that consumer, government and enterprise customers demand both at home and around the world.”

For a quarter of a century, SIA has published the leading analysis of the satellite industry’s economic performance. Produced by Bryce Space and Technology, LLC, the 2022 SSIR derives from proprietary surveys of satellite companies, in-depth public information, and independent analysis, combined to assess the performance of sectors including satellite services, manufacturing, ground equipment and launch services.

To view the executive summary slide of this year’s SIA State of the Satellite Industry Report, please click HERE. All SIA members receive a complimentary copy of the annual report. For all others who wish to purchase a copy of the complete report or for more information, please visit the SSIR website page HERE or contact SIA via email at info@sia.org or via telephone at 202.503.1560.

About The Satellite Industry Association

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: Amazon; The Boeing Company; DIRECTV; EchoStar Corporation; HawkEye 360; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman; OneWeb; Planet; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; The Aerospace Corporation; Artel, LLC; AST & Science; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; Aurora Insight; Blue Origin; Comtech; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Hughes; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo DRS; Lynk; Omnispace; OneWeb Technologies; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Peraton; SpaceLink; Telesat Canada; ULA; UltiSat and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: ARA; COMSAT; Davis Wright Tremaine; Envistacom, LLC; EVONA; Genus Group; Hogan Lovells; Integrasys LLC; Kencast; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; Orange Business Services; Orbital Research; Plexus Corp; Sheppard Mullin; Skylo Technologies and Wiley