As next-generation satellite networks transform connectivity at sea, the maritime satellite communications market is entering a new phase of growth with non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) networks having changed the economics and performance of maritime connectivity, according to research from Novaspace.
The 14th version of the Maritime satellite communications report from the independent consulting and market intelligence firm dedicated to the global space sector noted that the maritime satellite communications market is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades.
Specifically, it said the rapid adoption of NGSO constellations, evolving customer expectations, increasing bandwidth requirements and changing regulatory environments are reshaping how connectivity is delivered across commercial and recreational fleets worldwide.
In all, the study calculated that global maritime satellite service revenues are projected to grow from $2.28bn in 2025 to $3.79bn by 2035, driven by accelerating adoption of NGSO services and increasing demand for always-on connectivity across commercial and recreational fleets.
The report forecasts that the global fleet of very small aperture terminal (VSAT)-equipped vessels will surpass 600,000 by 2035, with growth increasingly fuelled by smaller vessels adopting broadband connectivity to support digital operations, regulatory compliance, crew welfare, safety and operational efficiency.
Moreover, as maritime digitalisation accelerates, satellite capacity demand is expected to increase nearly fivefold over the next decade, from the current 500 Gbps to approximately 2.5 Tbps by 2035, reflecting said Novaspace the growing reliance on bandwidth-intensive applications across the maritime industry.
The report identifies NGSO adoption as the primary driver of market transformation. Although deployment timelines have been modestly affected by delays to Amazon’s LEO constellation, NGSO service revenues are still expected to reach $3.25bn by 2035. Lower-cost terminals, simplified installation, improved network performance and increasingly competitive service offerings continue to accelerate adoption across all major vessel segments.
Novasapce was adamant that this shift was rapidly changing the competitive landscape. NGSO services represented 48% of maritime satellite service revenues in 2025 and are forecast to account for 86% by 2035. At the same time, NGSO systems are expected to support approximately 98% of total maritime satellite capacity demand, reshaping how connectivity is delivered at sea.
Yet despite this transformation, the report found that GEO satellite networks will continue to play an important role. Many commercial operators are adopting multi-orbit connectivity strategies that combine GEO and NGSO services to improve resilience, global coverage and service continuity. Rather than replacing GEO, the market is evolving toward integrated, hybrid network architectures.
“NGSO networks have fundamentally changed the economics and performance of maritime connectivity,” said Vishal Patil, senior consultant at Novaspace. “Over the next decade, they will become the backbone of maritime communications, delivering higher capacity, lower latency, more flexible services and a significantly improved user experience for vessel operators worldwide.”
The study came after Novaspace released a report showing that the satellite communications market has expanded rapidly over the past three years or so, with what it referred to as the Starlink effect further accelerating demand and reshaping the satellite connectivity market.
The eighth edition of Novaspace’s High throughput satellites (HTS) report offered a strategic look at the evolving HTS landscape, covering capacity supply, demand dynamics across verticals, market drivers and the infrastructure investments shaping the future of satellite connectivity. In all, it found global demand for capacity reaching 218Tbps by 2034, while service revenues are set to more than double to $76bn over the same period.
