ORLANDO-The military and government sectors will likely drive the demand for satellites during the next five years, while offering a boost to the commercial satellite sector, according to a new report from Northern Sky Research.
An average of 60 satellites per year are expected to be launched between 2002 and 2007, down from 90 satellites launched annually from 1995 to 2000, according to the research firm. North America is expected to account for 58 percent of global revenue streams from satellites during the next five years, and North America and Europe will account for 70 percent of all satellite deployments.
“It has become widely expected for the commercial satellite sector to falter due to the world’s overcapacity in terms of transponder and bandwidth capacity. The military and government sectors are now regarded as the engine of growth for the satellite manufacturing industry,” said Jose del Rosario, senior analyst of Northern Sky Research and the report’s author. “Indeed, the U.S. government is looking to continue its dominance in space in military and economic terms, and will likely continue to exert efforts in order to retain its dominant position by deploying more satellites.”
According to the research firm, the commercial satellite sector benefits from increased military use of satellites because satellite equipment is designed for dual use.
