In its latest report, titled Prospects for Maritime Satellite Communications,” Euroconsult, the world’s leading authority on space and satellite-based applications markets, quantifies the heavy impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on satellite services for the maritime market. With in depth detail on maritime communications market dynamics today and over the next ten years, the research highlights coming opportunities for consolidation and how non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations will change the playing field.
There was a surprising disparity in the effect of the pandemic on various sectors of the market. Demand for satellite connectivity for cruise ships plummeted with an 80 percent reduction in active VSATs compared to the previous year. However, the demand for satellite connectivity for the merchant shipping industry remained strong, driven by increased need for crew welfare due to quarantines and longer times at sea because of Covid-19 restrictions. Merchant shipping remains the largest segment of the maritime connectivity market, generating nearly half of the total maritime VSAT service revenue with $584 million in 2020.
Other sectors discussed in the maritime connectivity report include leisure vessels, oil and gas offshore, and the commercial fishing industry. The former two suffered from the pandemic with lowered revenues however, the market for connectivity services for fishing vessels grew by six percent. Euroconsult forecasts that the fishing industry has further growth potential for mobile satellite services.
With the entire value chain severely impacted by the losses in the cruise, leisure, and offshore markets, 2020 was a year of restructuring for many satellite service providers.
“2020 was a challenging year for the Maritime Connectivity market,” said Xavier Lansel, Senior Consultant at Euroconsult and author of the report. “As service providers lost market share, several entered into the process of reorganization or reshaped their market approach. As a result, we expect to see consolidation and M&A deals in 2021.”
The report includes projections through 2030, with stabilization expected in the near term to be followed by growth. The coming NGSO broadband constellations are expected to play a major role in maritime connectivity. Based on newly revealed plans from several NGSO constellation operators, Euroconsult forecasts that these new entrants will capture half of the market for leased capacity by 2030.
About the Report
Prospects for Maritime Satellite Communications addresses the market dynamics that impact the entire value chain including both maritime VSAT service providers as well as satellite operators. It delves into the strategic issues, regulations, and technologies that are driving change and forecasts pricing and revenue expectations for each of the five market segments.
The report is an essential tool for satellite service providers, satellite operators, and investors who need to understand the opportunities for growth based on global trends and forecasts. It provides a detailed snapshot of where the maritime communications market stood at the end of 2020 and it forecasts revenue, terminals, and other key figures for the next ten years. Now in its tenth edition, Prospects for Maritime Satellite Communications is available for download from the Euroconsult store: https://digital-platform.euroconsult-ec.com/
About Euroconsult
The Euroconsult Group is a leading international consulting and market intelligence firm specialized in high technology industries, with expertise in the space industry, satellite-based applications, aero connectivity, information and data services. Privately owned and fully independent, we have over thirty years of experience developing comprehensive research programs and working with private companies and government entities, providing end-to-end consulting services, from project strategy definition to implementation, bringing data-led perspectives on the most critical issues. The Euroconsult Group is trusted by 600 clients in over 50 countries. The Group is headquartered in France, with offices in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Singapore. www.euroconsult-ec.com
