Satellite Industry Faces Sovereignty Challenges Amid Geopolitical Tensions at SatShow 2026
The SatShow 2026 highlighted significant trends in the satellite industry, focusing on sovereignty pressures due to rising geopolitical tensions. Discussions centered around the regulatory complexities affecting satellite operators, with CEOs from major companies like SES, Viasat, and Telesat addressing the shift in strategies and business models. The geopolitical environment has led to increased risks of cyberattacks and a push for regionally-aligned supply chain models. Despite these challenges, opportunities have emerged, such as Telesat's military Ka-band spectrum addition and SES's investment in Lynk Global for direct-to-device (D2D) services. The event also emphasized the importance of multi-orbit connectivity and industry collaborations to foster a multi-vendor ecosystem. 
