The ABI Research team has been traveling for the past few months, meeting with clients (including Ericsson, Nokia, NVIDIA, and Intel), and having deep discussions on the state of the telecommunications industry and its future. This blog summarizes a few of these findings/trends and how we expect the market to evolve going forward.
From tariff impacts on the supply chain to advanced satellite innovations, ABI Research’s latest whitepapers shed light on the transformative forces shaping the global technology landscape in 2025. This blog highlights 10 must-read publications this year, each offering unique insights and strategic guidance across manufacturing, connectivity, smart infrastructure, and more.
The satellite and telecommunications industries are increasingly converging to create unified Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). This convergence provides seamless global connectivity, helping bridge the digital divide, provide emergency communications services, and unlock a wide range of enterprise applications. ABI Research’s latest analysis underscores the pivotal role of cloudification and Software-Defined Satellites (SDSs) in this transformation. These technologies further virtualize network infrastructure and enable scalable networks to quickly adapt to dynamic demands.
The world of connectivity is evolving, and satellite Internet of Things (IoT) is at the forefront. Businesses today depend on satellite-enabled IoT to bridge gaps where terrestrial networks falter. Remote farms, ocean-bound cargo, and rugged industrial sites are just a few examples of operations that struggle to maintain uninterrupted connectivity with cellular-only solutions. Satellite-supported IoT devices can even extend beyond traditional enterprise applications, as evidenced by the use of Globalstar’s satellite transmitter chip for animal monitoring.
The year 2024 provided numerous technology trends shaping the future of nearly every industry. ABI Research analysts have been covering these developments for some time, and now it’s time to reflect upon our studies in our annual trends whitepaper. Before we dive into the list, here’s a statement from Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer:
When Sputnik 1 successfully launched into space on October 4, 1957, it marked a Herculean moment in human history. After millennia of staring at the stars, we finally knew it was possible to launch continent-spanning communications and then mini-computer platforms into space to explore and provide vital intelligence about the Earth. The event also critically served as a launching pad for revolutionizing telecommunications and Earth Observation.
Satellite imagery is rapidly emerging as an essential technology for industries requiring precise, continuous, and real-time monitoring solutions. It enables organizations to track everything from agricultural fields to military assets with unparalleled accuracy. As covered in ABI Research’s Satellite Imaging Platforms Developments & Outlook presentation, the technology is rapidly evolving and expanding its use cases across diverse industries.
Working in a competitive industry demands that you become a data-driven organization. As a technology solution provider, effectively leveraging data can unlock significant advantages, such as driving market expansion and fostering innovation. Unfortunately, all too many companies lack an analytical approach to decision-making.
Laser satellite communication (also called lasercom) is a subset of free-space optical communication, presenting significant advantages over Radio Frequency (RF) signals. Laser satellite users can expect increased data rates (bandwidth), enabling them to send and receive far more information than traditional radio waves. With major satellite players like Starlink and Amazon Project Kuiper investing in the technology, there is broader attention being paid to Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs).