Satellite Data Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application, By Deployment, By Service (Image Data Service, Data Analytics Service), By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030

Report Overview

The global satellite data services market size was valued at USD 10.65 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.0% from 2024 to 2030. The increasing use of satellite technology to collect, process, and propagate data across several major industry verticals drives industry expansion. The growing popularity of tools such as Google Earth has created a steady demand for satellite imagery feed access in real-time on mobile devices, further elevating these services' popularity. The emergence of small satellites and their associated benefits, including smaller deployment cycles and lower production costs than their larger counterparts, is another factor expected to maintain competitiveness among companies in this market during the forecast period.

The increasing pace of technological proliferation in the satellite manufacturing sector is a primary reason for the demand for satellite data services such as data analytics and image data. New innovations in the satellite technology field have encouraged the incorporation of smaller sensors into satellites that can drastically reduce the satellite size. Several small satellites can provide more effective results than fewer larger satellites in particular operations, including radio relaying and land surveying. Small, lightweight, and low-cost satellites are generally deployed in lower orbits, resulting in improved data sharing and communication capabilities compared to larger and farther satellites. Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies in data analysis platforms has enabled service providers to mitigate external factors such as cloud cover and generate grayscales of higher bitrate to offer better insights.

AI-powered satellite imagery tools provide previously inaccessible insights on a global scale across social, industrial, and economic processes. Furthermore, deep learning tools can be leveraged to offer highly detailed and precise data that is beneficial to predict future trends, thus enabling customers to take calculated decisions as per requirements. The emergence of Satellite-as-a-Service (SataaS) also has a substantial role to play in market expansion. It allows single-host, multiple-tenant shared access between several tenants, thus promising cost savings and accelerated developments in major areas of space technology. Additionally, SataaS offers the ability to host multiple missions on a single spacecraft while sharing the capabilities of payload instruments and platforms amongst multiple customers to perform mission experiments and operations as per their needs. The technology has industrywide applications and can be used for missions such as aircraft and marine tracking, Earth and astronomical observation, and communication.

Deployment Insights

In terms of deployment, the private segment led the market with a revenue share of 57.5% in 2023. The increasing popularity of smaller satellites and advancements in technology that ensure their efficient operations have created significant opportunities for the private deployment of satellites. Additionally, increasing focus on applications such as orbital manufacturing, mining, and tourism have led to substantial investments in space launch technologies by private enterprises. The presence of companies such as Blue Origin, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Sierra Space has created significant competition in this industry and expanded the access of space to individuals and companies aiming to conduct scientific research or carry out commercial ventures.

The public deployment segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. These satellites are deployed for scientific as well as administrative purposes, leading to frequent technological improvements that enable the provision of better services. For instance, the emergence of smart cities and the importance of data to recognize trends in settlements and ensure optimum infrastructure management have led urban planners to extensively utilize satellite data. Additionally, continuous climate monitoring and prediction of weather events are further aiding segment expansion. For instance, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) program is a collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These satellites have provided continuous data and imagery regarding atmospheric conditions and solar activities, while also aiding in search and rescue operations.

Service Insights 

Image data service accounted for a leading revenue share in the global market in 2023. A steadily growing demand to understand and monitor various aspects of the Earth have led to increased deployment of satellites by governments and companies that can collect high-quality and detailed images. These images find applications in various critical segments, including weather forecasting and meteorology, oceanography, fishing, forestry, agriculture, and regional planning, among others. Organizations such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA have witnessed constant improvements in Earth Observation programs, enabling educational institutions to extensively utilize satellite images in their resources. Moreover, Satellite Imaging Technology has resulted in the development of multispectral and hyper-spectral sensors that are used to find objects, identify materials, and detect processes.

Meanwhile, the data analytics service segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth rate from 2024 to 2030. Data analytics includes several tools such as feature extraction, image data processing, digital models, and classification, which are utilized by companies looking to obtain actionable insights. The integration of complex analytics tools helps enterprises across major sectors such as agriculture, environment, and infrastructural development in extracting meaningful data. For instance, in the agricultural sector, data analytics can be used to monitor crop health and predict yield; in environmental monitoring, the technology is being leveraged to assess deforestation, monitor natural disasters, and evaluate urban expansions. Continuous advancements in security and defense measures present another major avenue for segment expansion as satellites offer data analytics solutions to identify military activities, monitor border security, and assess impact of conflicts. This variety in use cases is expected to aid industry growth in the coming years.

Application Insights

The environmental and climate monitoring segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2023. The environmental sector widely utilizes satellite imagery, as governments and non-government agencies leverage satellite data for weather monitoring, detecting changes in wind speed and currents, and predicting natural disasters. Satellite imagery has been highly useful for environmental researchers aiming to analyze various aspects affecting the environment. These factors include information regarding marine and terrestrial wildlife population, detecting deforestation activities, changes in landscape, and movement of wildlife, all of which are critical to determine the sustainability of the planet. The increasing impact of carbon emissions and climate change on the world has created an urgent need to deploy satellites that can provide comprehensive data to initiate environmental conservation efforts. For instance, in July 2024, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that the country’s terrestrial ecosystem carbon monitoring satellite and atmospheric environment monitoring satellite had officially started operations. These satellites would support the country’s carbon neutrality goals.

The energy & utilities segment is expected to register the fastest growth from 2024 to 2030. This sector has been significantly impacted by the integration of satellite imagery, owing to the availability of highly detailed insights for monitoring and controlling energy movement. Satellite data enables 2D and 3D dimensional seismic surveying of oil & gas drilling activities, mining activities, and helps improve safety & security for pipeline surveys. The combination of geospatial datasets and machine learning technologies with satellite data leads to higher efficiency and reduced costs in the implementation and management of smart grids. Use of optical imagery leads to visible-light, high-resolution images that provide a clear view of the geographical features and potential development locations for renewable energy projects. On the other hand, thermal imagery provides data on temperature variations that can be used to identify energy efficiency in power plants and monitor the potential of geothermal energy.

End Use Insights

In terms of end-use, the commercial segment accounted for a leading revenue share in 2023. Commercial applications of satellite data services involve leveraging satellite imagery for use cases such as broadcasting, tracking number of vehicles parked in a parking lot, crop rotation, and navigation. Use of satellite data for commercial applications has enabled companies to obtain deeper insights about their target area and make necessary changes as per their requirements. An increasing focus on improving the accuracy of weather forecasts has driven the demand for satellite data to be used in combination with other sources such as weather balloons, Doppler radar, and weather stations. Besides geostationary and polar orbiting satellites, low Earth orbit satellites are being increasingly used to offer short-range and timely weather predictions.

The government & military end-use segment is expected to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. Growing focus of government organizations in developing infrastructure and improving public safety has created a need for data analytics and imaging solutions through satellites. Satellite imagery data can be leveraged for administrative purposes such as surveillance, remote sensing, and government activities such as population count, land use, development study of particular areas, and monitor urbanization of new places. The military is another significant customer of satellite services, as they help in the planning and deployment of defense and security missions. The United States Space Force operates Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites to protect the nation and its allies by detecting space launches, missile launches, and nuclear detonations, thus functioning as an early warning system.

Regional Insights

North America led the market with 36.8% of the revenue share in 2023. A steadily high demand for satellite services in scientific research and applications is expected to act as a primary driver for the regional market. Incremental growth in scientific applications can be attributed to the rising need among government and non-government agencies to effectively map and analyze glaciers, rivers, topographies, and determine the societal impact of economic trends. Additionally, the presence of a significant number of major players such as Maxar Technologies and NV5 Geospatial Solutions (L3Harris) enables organizations in the region to leverage their diverse service offerings, enabling positive growth prospects for this market.

U.S. Satellite Data Services Market Trends

The U.S. held a dominant share of the regional market in 2023. The presence of organizations such as NASA, along with several private agencies such as Planet Labs and SpaceX, has created significant opportunities for technological innovations in this industry, resulting in better accuracy and efficiency of the generated data. Additionally, the U.S. has been notable for assigning significant budgets to the military and defense sectors with a view to enhance nationwide security. In June 2020, the Department of Defense released its Defense Space Strategy that highlighted the measures to ensure space superiority, maintain space stability, and offer support to different operations by advancing its spacepower. Such initiatives are expected to drive substantial development of the countrywide market.

Europe Satellite Data Services Market Trends

Europe accounted for a notable share of the global market in 2023. An increasing focus on environmental regulations and climate monitoring in regional economies is expected to drive regional market expansion in the coming years. The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) monitors the climate, weather, and environment from space, operating the Meteosat-10 and Meteosat-11 over Europe and Africa, and the Meteosat-9 over the Indian Ocean. Data obtained from these satellites have proven to be highly beneficial in weather forecasting, environment monitoring, and understanding climate change. The Copernicus program that has been running since 2014 aims to provide accurate and timely information to improve environmental management, ensure citizen safety & security, and mitigate the impact of climate change. Such developments are expected to maintain a strong growth of the regional industry.

The UK held a substantial share of the European satellite data services market in 2023. The development of various energy and power projects in the economy, along with the need to conduct continuous environmental monitoring, is expected to aid industry growth in the country. The power and energy sector has been a leading user of satellite imagery to gauge essential factors that enable organizations to determine how & where to prioritize development. Leveraging satellite imagery with modern mapping technology and machine learning empowers energy providers to offer cost-effective, reliable, efficient, and viable distribution solutions according to feasibility, need, and requirements of the company.

Asia Pacific Satellite Data Services Market Trends

Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period in the global market. The increasing focus on disaster management and forest cover mapping and growing presence of an advanced scientific community in economies such as China and India is enabling market growth in the region. Additionally, countries such as China, India, and South Korea are actively adopting satellite data services to map socio-economic trends and enhance their security. China has maintained a strong pace in the development of satellites for environmental monitoring, agriculture, meteorology, and emergency disaster response, through the integration of advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning. Other nations such as India, Japan, and South Korea are also accelerating their space initiatives, shaping the regional market positively.

The satellite data service market in China accounts for a significant contribution to the regional market, and is expected to further witness substantial growth in the coming years. The availability of high-quality and affordable raw materials for satellite development, along with the incorporation of advanced technologies in these vehicles, has enabled the country to become a major player in this industry. The country has also significantly upgraded its defense infrastructure, owing to constant activities in the South China Sea and frequent conflicts in Taiwan. Additionally, significant investments have been made in the manufacturing of satellites for high-resolution imagery via the China Association for Science and Technology. This is expected to be widely utilized in the management and monitoring of urban development, natural resources, defense, agriculture, and transportation, fueling market growth.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Some key companies involved in the satellite data services market include Maxar Technologies, Planet Labs, and Satellite Imaging Corporation, among others.

• Maxar Technologies provides communication and information solutions, through the development of advanced satellite imaging and geospatial services. Other service offerings include direct access program, rapid access program, satellite access, satellite and optical imagery, and on-demand intelligence, among others. The company has an expansive product portfolio that includes Precision3D Data Suite, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Precision3D Registration, Spacecraft Components, and Spacecraft Platforms. Major industries served by Maxar include climate research, telecommunications, and defense, among others. The company operates through two divisions - Maxar Intelligence and Maxar Space Systems.

• Planet Labs Inc. is an Earth imaging company based in the U.S. that offers satellite-based Earth imaging and analytics services for its clients to monitor trends and changes. The company has built and deployed around 450 satellites, with more than 200 of these operating in orbit currently, collecting over 350 million sq.km. of imagery per day. The company serves several major industries, including agriculture, energy & infrastructure, education & research, forestry & land use, mapping, defense & intelligence, sustainability, and maritime. Planet Labs has more than 200 partners that leverage its advanced solutions to gain useful insights.

Recent Developments

• In September 2024, Planet Labs Germany GmbH signed a three-year contract with the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center. The deal would enable Planet to offer its Earth observation data services and products to the German Space Agency, as well as German researchers to aid in their research and development activities. Researchers will be able to access the company’s PlanetScope products, which includes their advanced monitoring capabilities and a comprehensive archive of PlanetScope data. The German Space Agency will be additionally receiving Planet’s complete archive of RapidEye imagery over Germany.

• In September 2024, ICEYE US announced that it had been selected by NASA on a 5-year contract to provide synthetic aperture radar data for the latter’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program. This project has been leveraging commercial sources since 2020 to identify, evaluate, and acquire data to support the Earth Science Division of NASA in its scientific research and application objectives.

Satellite Data Services Market Report Scope

Global Satellite Data Services Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global satellite data services market report based on application, deployment, service, end use, and region:

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Defense & Security

  • Energy & Utilities

  • Agriculture & Forestry

  • Environmental & Climate Monitoring

  • Engineering & Infrastructure Development

  • Marine

  • Others

• Deployment Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Private

  • Public

  • Hybrid

• Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Image Data Service

  • Data Analytics Service

• End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Commercial

  • Government and Military

  • Service Providers

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • UK

    • Germany

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • India

    • China

    • South Korea

    • Australia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE