Analysys Mason’s reporting from Space Tech Expo Europe shows rising investment, sovereign programmes and a growing addressable market for European satellites. Local presence, distinctive value propositions and strong European partnerships will determine which players capture the opportunity.
This research marks a strategic pivot from traditional ground-based interference to adaptive, networked architectures that mirror the design of the networks they target. While currently a simulation, the data points to a future where commercial operators must defend against region-wide, persistent electronic warfare.
The next era of space operations must be built on shared maneuver data, high-fidelity ephemerides, smart data fusion and intelligent automation.
The Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) released the first non-terrestrial network (NTN) Reference Architecture in an effort to guide satellite operators, mobile network operators (MNOs), device makers and standards bodies toward a unified, interoperable NTN ecosystem.
Is satcom’s D2D revolution accelerating satellite operators’ embrace of 5G standards, or are both trends represent parallel tracks of a longer convergence story?
Germany has pledged €35 billion for military space programs through 2030, putting a national broadband constellation on the table even as Berlin remains a major Iris2 contributor. The move raises questions about duplication versus interoperability between national and EU systems and underscores the push to balance sovereignty with European cooperation.
The market is fragmenting across GEO, LEO and proprietary paths, each with distinct trade-offs in latency, hardware readiness and long‑term viability. As 3GPP standardization gains momentum, expect faster scale in verticals like drones, aviation, maritime and agriculture — but silicon and partner stability will decide who wins.
DIFI settled on a streamlined VITA‑49 core to meet defense and commercial satcom needs while keeping implementation simple and widely adoptable. Because networks integrate at the IP level, satellite systems using DIFI/VITA‑49 can interoperate with terrestrial eCPRI‑based 5G, letting both ecosystems capitalize on NTN without compromise.
Peter Krauss of Terran Orbital talks about the importance of rapid iteration and accelerated development to build and deploy on-orbit assets more efficiently to support commercial innovation and national defense needs.
