- Space sovereignty emerged as a top theme at SatShow 2026, forcing satellite operators to rethink business models
- Direct-to-device and multi-orbit connectivity gained momentum
- SpaceX’s growing market dominance loomed large, underscoring competitive tension
SatShow 2026 made clear that the satellite industry is reaching an inflection point, as geopolitical pressure, tech innovation and mounting regulatory frustration collide – all under the ever-present shadow of Elon Musk and SpaceX.
As operators and vendors scramble to keep up with these moving parts, here are the top 6 takeaways Fierce Network identified at the show and what they mean for the future of telecommunications.
1. Push for sovereign space infrastructure
Sovereignty was a big buzzword at SatShow and for good reason. While the concept of countries controlling and securing their own satellite networks isn’t new, recent geopolitical tension has accelerated demand for sovereign infrastructure – prompting satellite operators to rethink their business models and supply chain strategies.
Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg noted there’s always been an overlap in satellite requirements for both commercial and sovereign needs, but now countries realize they “need more than what they’ve been buying.”
The challenge lies in how to reconcile sovereignty with the fact that space has no national borders. “You can have a company from space that delivers connectivity into your country, whether you want it or not,” he said.
2. Optimism – and caution – around D2D
The potential of direct-to-device (D2D) service was another big theme, as mobile operators deliberate how D2D can go beyond emergency calls and texting and transition to an integral layer of global telecommunications.
SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh said he believes there is “no saturation in sight” for the D2D market, noting the company is seeing demand even from operators that have already signed agreements with Starlink and Amazon.
A GSMA presentation at the show highlighted that there are currently more than 121 telcos that are partnering with satellite operators, 37 of which have live satellite service.
Despite the hype around 5G and satellite convergence, it’s still not clear how much revenue D2D will generate in the long-term. “We’re not going to know for at least five years,” said Iridium CTO Greg Pelton in a CTO panel. “But it’s not ever going to be the primary service for a cell phone.”
3. Elon Musk/SpaceX weighs heavily
Not exactly an earth-shattering take, but it’s clear Elon Musk and SpaceX have massively disrupted the satcom industry and are paving the way for a space crowded with mega-constellations deployed by Starlink, Amazon Leo, China and others.
Rumors of SpaceX planning to file an initial public offering (IPO) are top of mind for many folks in the satellite business, Iridium CEO Matt Desch told Fierce at the show. “I heard people talk about it being a good thing for the industry, and a bad thing for the industry, and I don’t think anybody really knows for sure.”
Starlink’s advantage is bolstered by its control over the entire supply chain, from satellites to rockets and user terminals (even Amazon is using SpaceX rockets for some of its launches). Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg said it’s still procuring components from third parties, placing the operator at a disadvantage to “our competitors who are vertically integrated.”
4. Multi-orbit matters
Low-earth orbit (LEO) technology typically hogs most of the satellite limelight, but industry experts at the show stressed the importance of multi-orbit connectivity, which marries LEO with geostationary (GEO) and medium-earth orbit (MEO) satellites to optimize capacity.
While LEO satellites offer lower latency than their GEO counterparts, GEO will still be integral for wide-area data distribution. As Dankberg pointed out, LEO and GEO are “different animals, but for the end-user they’re intended to do the same thing.”
“No one wants to have all their eggs in one basket,” said James Trevelyan, Speedcast EVP of Global Sales, during a panel on “Mastering the Bandwidth Equation.”
“There are customers who have got legacy systems that they need to sweat and that makes sense for them to operate effectively in a multi-orbit environment,” he said.
5. Satellite takes frontline role
As evidenced by all the military satellites on display, satellites are now a cornerstone of defense operations, surveillance and GPS navigation, which ties back into the overarching sovereign theme we’re hearing.
To meet surging defense demand, Telesat, for example, plans to add 500 MHz of military Ka-band spectrum to its Lightspeed LEO constellation. Kymeta, a satellite terminal manufacturer, announced this week a new multi-orbit, multi-band antenna specifically designed for U.S. defense and its allied partners.
6. Regulation needs to match innovation
Complaints about outdated regulations are commonplace across telecommunications, and that also rings true for satellite.
The regulatory environment around issues like spectrum management, licensing and managing orbital pathways is “out of pace” with how fast the satcom space is moving, said Lynk Chief Engineer Joseph Bravman at the show.
SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh similarly noted the industry is still cemented in a 5–7-year development cycle. Operators building components for both ground and space satellite applications don’t have the luxury of waiting for regulatory policy to catch up.
“We can’t afford to test the system in space five years after we have the idea,” Al-Saleh added.