2026 is a Dramatic Year, both in Politics and Space

As Via Satellite marks its 40-year anniversary, the industry finds itself at another pivotal moment. It has been a dramatic year, shaped by both geopolitical shifts and major developments across the space sector. We have seen some huge news stories from Amazon moving to acquire Globalstar to SpaceX’s merger with xAI and Blue Origin unveiling plans for the TeraWave constellation.These developments also intensify pressure on established players to compete with the deep pockets of SpaceX and Amazon.

What is also interesting this year is how world events could significantly shape the industry over the next few years. The ongoing conflict in Iran and the Middle East, as well as the situation involving Greenland, show that geopolitics are changing, and allies may not want to work together the way they did before. At SATShow week, the conversations around sovereign space were ramped up to a level that perhaps we have not seen before at the show. Countries want independence in space, and developing a space-based capability is now seen as something that is essential for many countries. This is changing the dynamics of the industry. With NATO countries looking to spend more on defense, naturally, some of this investment will be in space-based capabilities.

The D2D market and where that goes next is also a hot topic. From Amazon’s acquisition of Globalstar to the satellite industry’s far greater presence at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, there is a sense that times are changing. Mobile operators are eager to embrace satellite technologies in a way that signifies a big sea change in their attitudes towards satellite tech. The satellite world is changing, and new significant opportunities are emerging in an uber-connected world where even in remote locations, people expect to be connected. Space is no longer at the edge of the ecosystem. It is now a prime-time technology.

With so much on the horizon for the satellite and space industry, expect even more dynamic and forward-looking conversations in 2027 and beyond. We look forward to continuing to learn, innovate, and evolve alongside you. In the meantime, explore videos and sessions from SATShow 2026 to revisit insights and conversations from industry leaders.

Mark Holmes, Senior Editorial Director

Via Satellite