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The Satcom market

Satellite telecommunications constitutes 60% of the activity of space industries. Nine out of ten satellites launched by Ariane 4 and Ariane 5 are telecommunication satellites.

The market for satellite communications has been expanding at a substantial rate - more than 5–6% per year. Today, more than 250 satellites provide more than 20 000 television programmes from geostationary orbit. Millions of sites are connected by satellite using small interactive terminals. Further, three operational LEO constellations (Globalstar, Iridium, Orbcomm) complement these services.

When launchers, user terminals and specially derived services are taken into account, satcom’s market value can be approximated at €100 billion. Satellite communications and launchers have been the most important application of the space programme in Europe as well as in countries worldwide.

European industry and European telecommunication operators are at the forefront of this huge international market, thanks in part to the vision of ESA and the efforts the Agency and its Member States have put into developing new technology and satellite systems over the past three decades.

Last update: 8 April 2009

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Telecommunications and Integrated Applications