Globally, 2012 revenues for the satellite industry totaled $189.5 billion, up from $177.3 billion the previous year. All four industry sectors grew, led by satellite services, the traditional driver for the industry. Both satellite manufacturing and launch services saw significant revenue increases, and satellite ground equipment revenues also continued to expand.

“The satellite industry continued to grow in 2012, outpacing both U.S. and global economic performance,” said Patricia Cooper, the President of SIA. “That satellite industry revenues have tripled since 2001 is evidence that consumers, businesses, and governments around the world place a high value on the dynamic and innovative services and networks provided by the global satellite industry. SIA and its members are dedicated to advocate for policies that will generate additional growth in the coming years.”

This is the sixteenth year that SIA has issued its State of the Satellite Industry Report, prepared in 2013 for the first time by the Tauri Group. Tauri polled more than 80 satellite companies, both SIA members and non-members, to assess the performance of four satellite industry sectors: satellite services, satellite manufacturing, satellite launch industry, and ground equipment.

Carissa Christensen, the Managing Partner of the Tauri Group, noted that the SIA State of the Satellite Industry Report “is an industry standard used by senior decision-makers around the world. The Tauri Group is pleased to partner with SIA on the 2013 SSIR and enable SIA to continue its reputation as a reliable and unbiased source for industry information.”

The 2013 State of the Satellite Industry Report found the following results:

• Satellite Services revenues increased by 5 percent globally from 2011 to 2012, reaching $113.5 billion, powered by continued growth in consumer satellite television services
• Satellite Manufacturing revenues, reflecting in-year satellites launched, grew by 23 percent worldwide to $14.6 billion, compared with the $11.9 billion earned in 2011
• U.S. satellite manufacturing increased by 30 percent, from $6.3 billion to $8.2 billion
• Satellite Launch Industry revenues, reflecting in-year launches, increased by 35 percent globally, with U.S. revenues increasing from $1.4 billion to $2.2 billion
• Satellite Ground Equipment revenues continued to increase, growing 4 percent over 2011 to reach $54.8 billion. Consumer ground equipment, including satellite TV, satellite broadband, mobile satellite terminals, and GPS devices, constituted the bulk of these revenues
• U.S. Satellite Industry Employment decreased by 1 percent through the third quarter of 2012, a net loss of 1,407 jobs. The pace of job losses slowed compared to the prior year, which saw a 2 percent drop in U.S. satellite industry employment

SIA will release an updated report after full 2012 employment data is published in August by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.