LEO satellites market seen reaching $13.49B by 2030

A new report from The Business Research Company says the low Earth orbit satellites market will grow from $8.14 billion in 2026 to $13.49 billion by 2030, driven by demand for low-latency connectivity, defense use and real-time Earth observation. The report also flags North America as the largest market in 2025 and the fastest-growing region through the forecast period.

Why it matters: - Low Earth orbit satellites are becoming a core infrastructure layer for global internet coverage, Earth observation and defense communications. - The market’s growth points to more commercial constellations, more launch activity and faster adoption of satellite-based services across industries. - The report’s forecast suggests LEO systems will keep gaining share as governments and operators look for lower-latency connectivity and more resilient networks.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released its 2026 low Earth orbit satellites market report on June 11, 2026. - The report says the market rose from $7.11 billion in 2025 to an expected $8.14 billion in 2026. - The report forecasts the market will reach $13.49 billion by 2030. - The report covers market dynamics, segment insights, company strategies, regional trends and growth forecasts for 2026-2035. - The company offered a free sample report and the full market report.

The details: - The report pegs the market’s 2025-2026 growth rate at 14.5%. - It says the 2030 forecast implies a 13.5% CAGR over the forecast period. - Rising deployment of small and mini-satellites for communication and Earth observation is a key growth driver. - Lightweight satellite components are enabling large-scale manufacturing. - Military reconnaissance, imaging, commercial satellite imaging and data services are expanding demand. - Lower-cost launch services are supporting larger LEO constellations. - The report says growth ahead will come from high-speed, low-latency global connectivity delivered by LEO constellations. - Mega-constellation projects by commercial operators are another major driver. - Advances in satellite propulsion and on-orbit maneuvering are improving satellite capability. - Artificial intelligence is being integrated into imaging and analytics for satellite missions. - Government and defense agencies are investing in resilient LEO communications and surveillance systems. - The report identifies small satellite constellations, real-time Earth observation data, military reconnaissance, affordable launches and miniaturized satellite parts as major trends. - A low Earth orbit satellite is defined in the report as a satellite operating at roughly 160 km to 1,000 km above Earth. - The report says these satellites are used for communication, military reconnaissance, spying and imaging applications. - OneWeb has launched around 650 LEO satellites as of October 2025, operating across 12 synchronized orbital planes at about 1,200 km altitude. - OneWeb’s network is aimed at high-speed, low-latency internet coverage across land, sea and air. - OneWeb partners with Arianespace for satellite launches from multiple spaceports. - North America held the largest market share in 2025. - North America is projected to remain the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. - The report also covers Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

Between the lines: - The report frames LEO as moving from a niche satellite segment to a broader connectivity and sensing platform. - The mix of commercial megaconstellations and defense spending suggests demand is coming from both revenue growth and strategic procurement. - Lower launch costs and smaller satellite hardware are making it easier to build and replace large constellations, which can accelerate market concentration among the biggest operators.

What’s next: - The report expects continued expansion through 2030 as operators scale constellations and governments increase spending on resilient space-based systems. - More AI-enabled imaging, propulsion upgrades and miniaturized components should shape the next phase of product development. - Regional competition is likely to intensify as North America maintains leadership and other markets build out deployment capacity.

The bottom line: - LEO satellites are moving into a high-growth phase, with the market expected to nearly double from 2026 to 2030 on the back of connectivity demand, defense use and cheaper access to space.