There’s a lot of hype in the space industry and bold projections about how demand for satellite broadband, direct-to-device, and more. But every year, the Satellite Industry Association provides a clear view into the industry’s financial performance in the annual State of the Satellite Industry Report.
This week, SIA President Tom Stroup joins On Orbit to dig into the 2026 report, which tracked rapid growth — the number of satellites launched to orbit in 2025 increased by 65%. Stroup shares some of the broad trends the report has been tracking in recent years, and some of the interesting contrasts — like the number of satellites manufactured compared to the value captured.
The report comes at a key time when there’s a bright spotlight on the space industry ahead of the SpaceX IPO, and Stroup shares how it’s used to educate policymakers on the broader satellite industry. The episode also covers how SIA works to find consensus among members in its policy positions, and his perspective on the satellite telecom convergence, as someone with deep experience in the wireless industry.