Dean Tan

Satellite Communications (SatCom) has entered a period of renewed interest with innovative technological advances, mainly driven by ballooning investment dollars in the high-growth space tech segment and the demand for global connectivity. The SatCom ecosystem has two segments: ground equipment and space. Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research foresees sustained ground segment growth from the SatCom terminals market, potentially reaching a market value of $15.6 billion by 2030.

“Technological gains in space tech have laid the foundations for innovative SatCom applications across diverse operational domains and a new age of intelligent satellites and satellite ground equipment,” advises Dean Tan, Satellite Communications Industry Analyst at ABI Research. “With the rapid advancements in Space Tech, the SatCom industry is at a critical inflection point. It is poised to expand beyond niche market status to play a broader role in modern communications in the coming years.”

Satellite Communications (SatCom) has entered a period of renewed interest with innovative technological advances, mainly driven by ballooning investment dollars in the high-growth space tech segment and the demand for global connectivity. The SatCom ecosystem has two segments: ground equipment and space. Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research foresees sustained ground segment growth from the SatCom terminals market, potentially reaching a market value of $US15.6 billion by 2030. “Technological gains in space tech have laid the foundations for innovative SatCom applications across diverse operational domains and a new age of intelligent satellites and satellite ground equipment. With the rapid advancements in Space Tech, the SatCom industry is at a critical inflection point. It is poised to expand beyond niche market status to play a broader role in modern communications in the coming years,” says Dean Tan, Satellite Communications Industry Analyst at ABI Research.

Article by Dean Tan

Article by Dean Tan

Article by Dean Tan

he report, Emerging Markets Broadband Objectives: Spectrum Requirements, forecasts that approximately 90% of 5G cell sites in emerging markets will be operating support a combination of sub-6 GHz bands by 2026, with sub-6 GHz bands providing the best-in-class coverage while catering for sufficient capacity in emerging markets. Yet while millimetre-wave (mmWave), with its larger amount of bandwidth, can meet very high-capacity demand use cases, ABI believes that its poor propagation characteristics and cost of deployment puts it in a disadvantage compared to sub-6 GHz bands for 5G deployment. “5G mmWave will have its role to play in urban and suburban downtown locales in developed markets and perhaps commercial business districts in emerging markets but the reality is, emerging market telcos will need the coverage and capacity characteristics of the sub-6 GHz bands for 5G,” explained Dean Tan, research analyst at ABI Research. “Not only does sub-6 GHz has sufficient capacity to meet demand, but also can propagate over a longer distance and is not attenuated by rain.”

ABI Research forecasts that approximately 90% of 5G cell sites in emerging markets will be operating with support for a combination of sub-6 GHz bands by 2026.

Inside the complicated business of disguising 5G equipment. ccording to Dean Tan, analyst at ABI Research, a lamp posts' access to a power supply will make them an "integral part of any smart city project." Tan said there is a "growth opportunity" for concealment companies as they play a big role in the global rollout of 5G. "Other potential options [beyond smart poles] include bus stop displays, manhole covers and even traffic lights," he said. However, street lamps are ideal as they have elevation and an existing source of power."