Global Markets - Latest Developments
The March-April 2026 issue of the Satellite Executive Briefing featuring:
If You Want to Sell Your Space Technology to the Government – Here’s How by Bruce Elbert
From Fragmentation and Complexity to Simplicity by Elisabeth Tweedie
DIFI and the Digital RF Transition: Progress, Pitfalls and Market Reality by Kevin Dunne
Plus Company Spotlight on Vivacom, Product Spotlights, Product and Services Guide to Satellite 2026, Mergers and Acquisitions, Executive Moves, Market Trends and many more. Click here to read or download the pdf file
by Kevin Dunne
The satellite ground segment is undergoing a structural transition rather than a simple technology upgrade. As bandwidth demands increase and ground architectures become more varied, operators are being asked to support multiple missions and orbits from shared infrastructure.
by Markus Fritz
The vision of a seamlessly connected vehicle, one that maintains high-speed data, critical safety alerts, and operational telematics regardless of location, is transitioning from an R&D dream to a commercial and safety imperative. This demand for seamless, ubiquitous connectivity is colliding with a hard reality: terrestrial networks (TN), no matter how advanced, will never cover 100% of the globe due to economic and geographical constraints.
by Bruce Elbert
Technology developers and startup companies abound in the space that we call the space industry. The drive at this moment is to move into the government sphere where there are many new requirements and what appears to be ample budget to reward those entities that have a unique capability to offer in satisfying the evolving missions of defense and security. This is not a new idea and it worked in reverse after previous wars where government contractors sought to transform themselves into commercial product and service producers outside of what was familiar and rewarding to them.
by Elisabeth Tweedie
Many years ago, video distribution was a relatively straight forward operation. Video went from the camera, to the studio for immediate or delayed linear broadcast transmission. Non-live programs would probably incur some editing and packaging prior to transmission.
Effective March 5, 2026, Rohde & Schwarz acquired Software Radio Systems (SRS), a specialist in 5G software defined radio systems. This acquisition further strengthens the position of Rohde & Schwarz in the cellular and wireless communications software market and accelerates development in AI based test solutions for satellite and next generation 6G wireless technologies. SRS will continue to operate under its own name as a Rohde & Schwarz group company, maintaining its product roadmap, leadership team and strategic focus.
Satellite operator SES S.A. announced financial results for the year ending in December 31, 2025. The combined SES and Intelsat (whose acquisition closed on July 2025) reported revenues of € 2.627 Billion and Adjusted EBITDA of € 1,196 Billion.
by Bruce R. Elbert
I’ve been receiving spam emails for some time indicating that SpaceX would be the biggest IPO in history when it goes public – soon. It appears that the time has come! An IPO valuation in excess of one trillion dollars? Who could imagine this, but on a financial basis, it makes sense. Is there value at this level and where can this company be in, say, five years?
Growing defence spending, Europe’s push for greater strategic resilience amid shifting US policy, and increasing demand for commercial space applications are creating new opportunities for European startups. However, European companies still face many challenges, including funding, that could further increase the gap between Europe and the US and China, an investor says.
Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) today announced it has completed the acquisition of Optical Support, Inc. (OSI), a manufacturer of custom, high-precision optical and optomechanical instruments. OSI’s advanced lenses and optomechanical systems are critical enablers for national security and commercial satellites, and are key subsystems used in Rocket Lab Optical Systems’ high-performance payloads for space protection, space domain awareness, missile warning, tracking and defense. OSI delivers end-to-end solutions from concept design and prototyping to full-scale production including CNC machining, optical alignment, cleanroom assembly, and testing.
