The SatShow 2026 brought forward essential trends shaping the satellite industry amidst rising geopolitical tensions. Although the event followed close on the heels of MWC, the SatShow remained focused on pressing themes such as sovereignty pressures, Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite communication, and multi-orbit connectivity.
One of the key discussions revolved around sovereignty pressures exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and regulatory complexities. Countries are emphasizing national security and control over their satellite assets. Consequently, satellite operators are adapting to these changes by shifting to regionally aligned supply chains despite the accompanying inefficiencies and costs. Dan Goldberg, CEO of Telesat, highlighted that these geopolitical developments could offer significant commercial opportunities.
Furthermore, there were crucial examples of altered strategies, such as Telesat introducing a 500 MHz military Ka-band spectrum into its Lightspeed constellation and Starlink‘s collaboration with Ukraine’s Kyivstar to provide direct-to-cell services. In response to the regulatory bottlenecks, companies are enhancing interoperability and adopting open standards to foster collaboration.
Significant focus also fell on the merger between Lynk Global and Omnispace, as announced by their CEOs, Ramu Potarazu and Adel Al-Saleh, respectively. This merger aims to provide a comprehensive D2D solution utilizing multi-spectrum technology combined with Omnispace’s S-band spectrum and ITU filings. Potarazu emphasized the flexibility offered by multi-spectrum technology in executing diverse missions essential for government and military applications. The new constellation will include 640 satellites, partly owned by SES, with commercial services expected by mid-2027.
Another critical theme at SatShow 2026 was multi-orbit connectivity, deemed essential for achieving optimal connectivity. The emphasis is not solely on low Earth orbit (LEO) technologies but leveraging a combination of geostationary (GEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and LEO satellites. SES’s meoSphere project, set to launch 28 satellites by 2030, will utilize Europe’s multi-orbit IRIS² constellation and SES’s software-defined payloads, reflecting the potential of multi-orbit strategies.
The show also discussed 3GPP NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks), indicative of the convergence between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks to provide extensive connectivity coverage. This convergence involves partnerships between traditional terrestrial operators and satellite communications, ensuring robust, ubiquitous connectivity services.
