5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Component Type (Hardware, Solutions, Services), By Platform (Unidentified Aerial System (UAS) Platform, Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite, Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Satellite, Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) Satellite), By Application (Enhanced Mobile Broadband (EMBB), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC)), By Location (Urban, Rural, Remote, Isolated), By End User (Aerospace & Defense, Government, IT & Telecom, Mining, Maritime, Others), By Region, Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 6.94 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	34.36%
Fastest Growing Segment	Enhanced Mobile Broadband (EMBB)
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 40.83 Billion

Market Overview

The Global 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market is projected to grow from USD 6.94 Billion in 2025 to USD 40.83 Billion by 2031 at a 34.36% CAGR. The Global 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market involves the integration of satellite and high altitude platform systems with terrestrial infrastructure to provide ubiquitous 5G wireless connectivity in accordance with 3GPP standards. This market is primarily driven by the urgent need to bridge the digital divide in underserved remote areas and the demand for continuous coverage in the maritime and aeronautical sectors. Growth is further supported by the proliferation of Internet of Things applications that require consistent global asset tracking and the necessity for resilient communication channels during natural disasters. According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association, in 2025, there were 170 publicly announced partnerships between operators and satellite providers across 80 countries.

Despite this strong momentum, a significant challenge impeding market expansion is the complex regulatory landscape regarding international spectrum allocation and interference management. Service providers must navigate disjointed licensing frameworks across multiple jurisdictions which frequently delays the deployment of cross border commercial services. These stringent and varying legal requirements create substantial barriers to entry and increase the operational costs for companies aiming to establish seamless global satellite coverage.

Key Market Drivers

Advancements in Direct-to-Device (D2D) Satellite Technology constitute a critical driver by fundamentally altering the accessibility of non-terrestrial networks. This technology enables unmodified consumer smartphones to connect directly with space-borne assets, eliminating the need for proprietary ground equipment and expanding the addressable market beyond specialized industrial use cases. By leveraging 3GPP Release 17 and 18 standards, operators can seamlessly extend coverage to dead zones, thereby creating new revenue streams from mass-market subscribers. According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association, September 2025, in the 'Non-Terrestrial 5G Networks and Satellite Connectivity' report, the sector recorded 12 commercial launches and 24 trials dedicated specifically to satellite-to-cellphone services. This surge in activity highlights the industry's shift from theoretical testing to tangible commercial realization.

The Rapid Deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Mega-Constellations serves as the physical backbone supporting this connectivity revolution. Unlike geostationary systems, LEO architectures position satellites closer to Earth, delivering the low-latency, high-throughput performance necessary for 5G applications and real-time data processing. This infrastructure boom is characterized by aggressive launch schedules and capital investment aimed at achieving continuous global coverage. According to the Satellite Industry Association, May 2025, in the '2025 State of the Satellite Industry Report', the total number of active satellites in orbit reached 11,539 following a historic surge in deployment activity. The commercial viability of these expanded networks is further evidenced by consumer adoption rates. According to SpaceX, in 2025, the Starlink network surpassed 9 million active subscribers globally.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The complex regulatory landscape governing international spectrum allocation and interference management constitutes a substantial barrier to the Global 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market. Unlike terrestrial networks that operate within defined national borders, non-terrestrial systems must navigate a disjointed array of licensing frameworks to provide seamless cross-border coverage. Service providers face significant operational hurdles as they attempt to secure spectrum rights across multiple jurisdictions, often dealing with inconsistent policies regarding frequency usage and interference mitigation.

This fragmented legal environment directly hampers market growth by prolonging the timeline between initial partnership announcements and the actual deployment of commercial services. The administrative burden of complying with varying national requirements increases entry costs and delays revenue generation, creating a bottleneck for global connectivity solutions. According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association, in 2025, only 34 operators in 25 markets had successfully launched commercial services. This limited number of active deployments compared to the high volume of planned initiatives illustrates how regulatory friction restricts the industry from translating market potential into operational reality.

Key Market Trends

The Emergence of Multi-Orbit Connectivity Strategies is reshaping the market by integrating the low latency of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations with the high capacity of Geostationary (GEO) systems. This architecture allows service providers to dynamically route traffic based on application requirements, ensuring optimal performance for mission-critical enterprise operations. By combining distinct orbital assets, operators can effectively mitigate the coverage and resilience limitations inherent in single-orbit networks. The financial viability of this hybrid approach is increasingly evident as major players consolidate their service offerings. According to Space Watch Africa, August 2025, in the 'Eutelsat releases full year 2024-25 results' report, the group's LEO revenues grew by over 84 percent to reach €187 million, confirming the rapid market adoption of integrated multi-orbit solutions.

Concurrently, the Commercialization of IoT-Specific Non-Terrestrial Networks is driving expansion by extending narrowband connectivity to remote industrial assets. Unlike consumer broadband, this trend focuses on supporting low-power devices for global logistics, agriculture, and utility monitoring where terrestrial signals are absent. This shift is characterized by a surge in collaborative ecosystems where mobile operators integrate satellite backhaul to offer seamless global roaming for automated devices. This momentum is quantified by the increasing volume of alliances aimed at deploying these capabilities. According to Computer Weekly, April 2025, in the 'GSMA: 2025 set to be year of satellite commercialisation' article, the total number of telco-satellite partnerships reached 99 by February 2025, highlighting the industry's aggressive push to operationalize ubiquitous IoT connectivity.

Segmental Insights

The Enhanced Mobile Broadband segment is currently positioning itself as the fastest-growing category within the Global 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks market. This expansion is primarily driven by the increasing requirement for continuous high-speed data transmission across geographically isolated regions, including maritime and aeronautical sectors. Standardization efforts by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project have been essential in facilitating the integration of satellite components with existing terrestrial infrastructure. As operators utilize these standards to extend service range and address connectivity gaps in unserved areas, the adoption of broadband-focused network solutions continues to rise significantly.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the Global 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks market, primarily due to substantial investments in space infrastructure and defense communications. The region benefits from a dense concentration of key satellite operators and technology vendors focused on integrating satellite and terrestrial systems. Furthermore, the Federal Communications Commission supports market expansion by establishing clear frameworks for spectrum allocation and licensing. This regulatory stability, coupled with strong government initiatives to ensure connectivity in remote areas, solidifies the region's dominance in developing and deploying non-terrestrial network technologies.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Astrum Mobile and Qualcomm Technologies announced the successful completion of a trial for a 5G Broadcast service delivered directly from a geosynchronous satellite to a retail smartphone. This pilot project, conducted in the Asia-Pacific region, utilized a standard-compliant 5G non-terrestrial network waveform to transmit live television and emergency alerts to commercial devices. The demonstration validated the capability of satellite-based broadcasting to reach unmodified smartphones, highlighting the potential for delivering high-bandwidth media content to underserved areas. This achievement represented a significant step forward in extending the reach of 5G technologies beyond traditional land-based infrastructure.
• In September 2024, SoftBank Corp. and Intelsat established a strategic collaboration to jointly lead the research and development of hybrid communication networks. This partnership focused on creating a ubiquitous network solution that seamlessly integrates terrestrial mobile networks with satellite communications. The companies agreed to align their efforts with 3GPP 5G non-terrestrial network standards to ensure global interoperability and wide commercial applicability across various sectors. By combining their respective expertise in terrestrial and space-based technologies, the organizations aimed to develop resilient products that allow devices to stay connected anywhere in the world using a single account and device.
• In March 2024, Keysight Technologies and Capgemini successfully validated 5G New Radio non-terrestrial network test scenarios, marking a technical breakthrough for the industry. The collaboration utilized Capgemini’s 5G central and distributed unit framework alongside Keysight’s channel emulation solutions to simulate complex low Earth orbit satellite conditions. This validation addressed the technical challenges associated with introducing 5G radio access network features for non-terrestrial communications, such as managing high-velocity Doppler shifts. The joint effort demonstrated the viability of standards-based testing environments, which are essential for accelerating the deployment and commercialization of satellite-based 5G networks globally.
• In January 2024, Skylo Technologies officially launched its commercial direct-to-device satellite network service across the contiguous United States and Canada. This significant development in the Global 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market enabled compatible cellular devices to transparently access satellite connectivity when outside traditional terrestrial coverage areas. The service leveraged 3GPP Release-17 standards to allow seamless roaming between cellular and satellite networks without requiring specialized hardware modifications. By utilizing dedicated licensed Mobile Satellite Services spectrum, the company aimed to support mass-market consumer devices and critical industrial applications, effectively eliminating connectivity gaps for users in remote and underserved geographic regions.

Key Market Players

• Qualcomm Technologies Inc.
• Thales Group
• SoftBank Group Corporation
• Keysight Technologies Inc.
• MediaTek Inc.
• ZTE Corporation
• Anritsu Corporation
• Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
• Omnispace LLC
• EchoStar Corporation

By Component Type	By Platform	By Application	By Location	By End User	By Region
Hardware Solutions Services	Unidentified Aerial System (UAS) Platform Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Satellite Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) Satellite	Enhanced Mobile Broadband (EMBB) Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC)	Urban Rural Remote Isolated	Aerospace & Defense Government IT & Telecom Mining Maritime Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market, By Component Type:

• Hardware
• Solutions
• Services

• 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market, By Platform:

• Unidentified Aerial System (UAS) Platform
• Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite
• Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Satellite
• Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) Satellite

• 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market, By Application:

• Enhanced Mobile Broadband (EMBB)
• Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC)
• Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC)

• 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market, By Location:

• Urban
• Rural
• Remote
• Isolated

• 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market, By End User:

• Aerospace & Defense
• Government
• IT & Telecom
• Mining
• Maritime
• Others

• 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE