Low earth orbit satellite constellations such as Spacelink will allow satellite broadband provides to serve 3.5 million subscribers in 2021, growing at an eight-percent compound annual growth rate to reach 5.2 million users in 2026, according to ABI Research.
To keep that in perspective, in 2021 there are about 4.93 billion regular internet users, using 1.2 billion fixed connections and upwards of seven billion mobile internet subscriptions, supporting mobile phone users, PCs and internet of things devices.
The point is that, as important as LEO constellations might be, they will remain a niche supplier of internet access services. By 2026, says ABI Research, LEO service revenue might reach US$4.1 billion.
In 2020 fixed network internet access in the United States alone generated more than $100 billion in annual revenue in 2013, by some accounts. By other accounts consumer access spending amounted to that much in 2013, without including business purchases.
Business access contributes at least $115 billion annually.
For that reason, other estimates suggest internet access sold to businesses and consumers generates $200 billion annually in service revenues.
The point is that LEO constellations are probably going to be the driver of satellite internet access revenues in the future. But it will still be a niche within the internet access business.
No comments:
Post a Comment