The satellite communications industry is shedding its legacy of proprietary isolation to join the global 5G ecosystem. By adopting 3GPP standards, SATCOM is transitioning from a specialized niche into a seamless extension of terrestrial mobile networks, effectively turning orbiting assets into “cell towers in the sky.” This convergence marks the end of closed technological silos and the beginning of a standardized, interoperable space economy.
This shift is propelled by an unprecedented commercial expansion, with the global satellite population projected to grow from roughly 15,000 today to 40,000 by 2030 (as indicated by ABI Research). Unlike the government‑led initiatives of the past, this momentum is overwhelmingly commercial and demands the kind of rapid innovation and scale that only a global cellular standard can provide. By leveraging 5G Non‑Terrestrial Network (NTN) technology, operators are no longer restricted to niche markets; they can now target a mass‑market audience of billions of standard smartphones and IoT modules.