The 10 Hottest Satellite Companies in 2025

Via Satellite’s 10 Hottest Companies rounds up 10 “must watch” companies in the satellite industry, from constellations, manufacturing, launch, and more. Via Satellite editors chose the companies on this list based on their expected activity for the year, and a mix of market share, transformational technology, ground-breaking deals, and overall industry excitement.

This list has highlighted 65 companies since it kicked off in 2019, with only a handful of companies making the list twice. The companies selected as the 2025 10 Hottest Companies in Satellite are listed here in alphabetical order:

AALYRIA

The future of space communications is cross-vendor, multi-orbit, and multi-domain. Aalyria is making this vision of communications a reality today with its Spacetime network orchestration platform. After being spun out of Google and emerging from stealth mode in 2022, Aalyria has quickly made an impact in the satellite industry. As part of the company’s mission to enable mesh networks for satellite operators, defense, terrestrial network operators, and more, it has amassed a notable list of collaborators and demonstrations. In one instance in 2024, Aalyria integrated assets from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial satellite operators and companies into a software-defined mesh network that brought together more than 630 satellites from three commercial satellite operators, along with fixed and mobile ground-based terminals.

It seems like everyone wants to use Aalyria’s technology, whether it’s the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Telesat Lightspeed, Intelsat, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) network, and the European Space Agency. Hyper-connected networks of the future require innovation in orbit, in ground technology, and Aalyria is investing in the software to knit it all together.

AST SPACEMOBILE

AST SpaceMobile is one of the most talked about companies in direct-to-device, widely seen as one of the “hottest” applications of satellite technology. The company is building a space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones. Over the last few months, AST SpaceMobile has accelerated its efforts to prove this business model with the launch of its first five commercial satellites, regulatory approval for testing, and its work with mobile network operators (MNOs).

Recent commercial agreements with Vodafone, Verizon, and AT&T show there is commitment from leading telcos to offer this service to their subscribers. In teaming up with Vodafone, one of the world’s most well-known telcos, there is now a framework for Vodafone to offer space-based cellular broadband connectivity in its home market and for other operators through its partner markets program. Aside from commercial applications, AST SpaceMobile is pursuing defense applications for this technology and was also selected by the Space Development Agency (SDA) to compete for upcoming prototype demonstration projects under the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low-Earth Orbit (HALO) program.

It is a company that provokes strong opinions and spurs hype among its retail investors. Many have doubted whether the company’s technology and its business model will pan out. The company still has a long wait to go for its bold ambitions, but it continues to build momentum for ushering in a new era of space-based communications.

BLUE ORIGIN

Blue Origin has long been touted to become a serious player in the launch market which has been dominated by SpaceX in recent years. The company already had a significant start to the year. In January, its long-awaited (and long delayed) New Glenn vehicle successfully reached its intended orbit during the NG-1 mission, a story that made headlines beyond the space industry. Blue Origin’s backlog of customers for New Glenn includes NASA, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, and several telecommunications providers, among others.

Blue Origin’s work extends beyond launch. The company aims to establish sustained human presence on the Moon, harness in-space resources, provide multi-mission, multi-orbit mobility through Blue Ring, and establish destinations in LEO. Future New Glenn missions will carry the Blue Moon Mark 1 cargo lander and the Mark 2 crewed lander to the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program.

There are many launchers looking to make a strong impact over the next few years and many new vehicles are set to debut. However, given Blue Origin’s resources and the capabilities of New Glenn, Blue Origin seems destined to become a major player. After its first launch, all eyes are on Blue Origin in 2025 to ramp up service and establish New Glenn as a competitive option in the launch market.

HISKY

While satellite launches are cool to watch and get lots of attention, the humble satellite terminal is what makes connectivity possible — where connectivity works, at what speed, and for what cost. Israeli satellite technology company hiSky developed the terminal that enabled one of the most interesting business deals in 2024 — agriculture giant Case IH working with Intelsat to equip its tractors with satellite connectivity. This collaboration involves a hiSky terminal that is about two feet long and 13 pounds in weight, along with a hub modem and network management system. While the cost of the terminal has not been announced, it is notable that hiSky and Intelsat are able to offer the terminal and service at a price that allows satellite to break into a new market where it is not widely deployed. Intelsat and hiSky’s win disrupted the conversation in agriculture after Starlink’s win with John Deere — showing there’s room in this market for multiple players.

And hiSky is thinking for the future with even smaller units and greater adoption — the connected car. It’s one of the only companies setting the conversation for the connected car, with a strategy for how its terminals can offer in-vehicle connectivity that can service use cases like phone calls, safety, predictive maintenance, and even entertainment. The coming year is a critical one for hiSky’s agriculture rollout with Intelsat and CNH, and there’s even more potential for what the company's work could mean for the connected car.

ICEYE

ICEYE is a poster child for the Finnish space industry and a company that has been at the forefront of a new era in Earth Observation (EO). From its beginnings in 2014 as a spin-off out of Aalto University in Finland, the company now operates the largest commercial fleet of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. ICEYE's imagery has been on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine and the company works closely with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The company is multi-faceted and is raising its profile on the global stage. ICEYE is working with Space42 to develop SAR satellites for the UAE, as the UAE looks to develop leading EO capabilities. It continues to invest in its technology, including the 2024 release of Dwell Fine imaging mode that offers 50-centimeter resolution, to enable a deeper understanding of changes on the Earth's surface.

The company closed out its momentum in 2024 with an additional funding raise, raising $158 million during 2024, demonstrating investor confidence in its progress. What makes ICEYE so compelling is how its technology impacts areas such as climate change, disaster response, and modern conflict. It is a company that has become synonymous with this new era of EO companies that has elevated this sector of the market to new levels.

INTUITIVE MACHINES

The space economy is a hot topic and one of the company’s driving this conversation is Houston-based Intuitive Machines. The past year was significant for the space exploration, infrastructure, and services company on a number of levels. It performed a historical soft landing on the south pole region of the moon with its Odysseus, the Nova-C class lunar lander vehicle. This significant milestone of the first commercial lander on the Moon made headlines beyond the space industry, and it was no surprise to see Intuitive Machines make TIME’s Most Influential Companies List in 2024.

Intuitive Machines is not just building lunar landers, it's also doing some really interesting things in communications. For example, it is working with Nokia as the two companies intend to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon. It has also received a NASA contract for a constellation of lunar data relay satellites to provide communications for lunar missions as part of NASA’s Near Space Network. With renewed interest in the Moon and space exploration, Intuitive Machines stands out for its soft landing success, and its diversified plan to provide infrastructure and services on the Moon. Fascination with Moon landings is part of the American DNA and Intuitive Machines could usher in a new, commercial era of lunar activity.

LOGOS SPACE

There’s a lot of conversation about how many Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations the communications market can support, and what companies will generate enough momentum to really challenge SpaceX. What are the chances one of those contenders is a company new to the scene?

Logos Space stirred up a lot of interest in November when it emerged from stealth mode with a plan for another LEO constellation. The company filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to construct and launch a LEO network of 3,960 satellites, with plans to operate in the Ka-, Q/V-, and E-bands. Instead of a consumer model, Logos Space plans to purpose-build for the enterprise customer, focused on resiliency and security for businesses. Its constellation plan involves narrow beams with specially designed control waveforms that are difficult to jam.

Its founders have notable credentials — former Google exec Milo Medin, who was the vice president of the tech giant’s Wireless Services business, and Rama Akella, who co-led SpaceX’s direct-to-cell network and then led the digital silicon and systems groups for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Logos Space also plans to work with Google spinout Aalyria (also on this list) for its software-defined network management. Logos Space is certainly one to watch as a new contender in the enterprise connectivity arena.

SKY PERFECT JSAT

SKY Perfect JSAT is not your average regional operator, and has been doing some really innovative things with its business and technology investments. For example, last year, SKY Perfect JSAT established a new company, Orbital Lasers, to develop a compact space laser aimed at providing active debris removal and LiDAR remote sensing services. This is not a typical move for a ‘traditional’ Geostationary Orbit (GEO) operator and highlights the operator’s out-of-the box thinking.

It is also working with Japanese telco NTT in the joint venture Space Compass to launch a Space Integrated Computing Network, and in 2024, unveiled a new Universal NTN Innovation Lab (NTN Lab) to conduct technical trials around 5G NTN technology. Interestingly, alongside NTT DOCOMO, it has invested in AALTO HAPS, which manufactures and operates the stratospheric, solar-powered Zephyr high altitude platform station (HAPS). And the operator is investing in the next-generation of its fleet with software-defined satellites on order from both Airbus and Thales Alenia Space — Superbird-9 set to launch in 2027 and JSAT-31 set to launch in 2028, respectively. Broadening its reach even further, SKY Perfect JSAT is investing $230 million in its own fleet of Planet Pelican satellites for Earth Observation. SKY Perfect JSAT is one of the most progressive regional operators and seems to be taking a vastly different approach to growing its business, with its investments in new technologies making it stand out from the pack.

SPACEX

It goes without saying that SpaceX could make this list of “Hottest” companies every year. But we try to keep the list fresh, and SpaceX hasn’t been on the list since its first rendition in 2019. A lot has changed since then. Once a disruptor, SpaceX has now for years operated the world’s most active launch business, making access to space possible for the vast majority of satellite operators. And Starlink, as the world’s largest satellite fleet, is now estimated to earn the company more money than the launch business. Starlink’s 2024 progress update reported the constellation ended 2024 with 4.6 million consumer subscribers — more than doubling Starlink subscribers year-over-year and expanding access to high-speed internet around the world.

More than any other private company, SpaceX has made space a part of the mainstream conversation. The Polaris Dawn crew on a Dragon vehicle achieved the eye-catching milestone of the first commercial spacewalk in August. And its public broadcasts of each Starship test flights are generating excitement well beyond the space industry. It is a testament to SpaceX’s employees that it is able to continually raise its own bar for success. While buzz around the company has no doubt increased overall investment in the space ecosystem, SpaceX’s dominance raises questions about what happens when a company amasses so much power across multiple levels in a single industry.

TESAT

While Tesat has a rich history that goes back as far as the Intelsat IV F-1 satellite in the 1970s, its momentum in laser communications earned its spot on the list for 2025. Optical communications terminals are seen as a critical technology for the future of data exchange in space — for both defense networks like the Proliferated Warflighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and commercial constellations. Tesat has emerged as a winning supplier in the optical terminal market, backing up its book of awards with in-orbit demonstrations. The company’s terminals are onboard multiple vendor satellites for the PWSA; Kepler Communications’ relay network; and will be onboard the Telesat Lightspeed satellites.

On top of these awards, Tesat was part of critical demonstrations in 2024. On the commercial front, Kepler validated optical inter-satellite links by transmitting data between two relay satellites in LEO. And Tesat terminals onboard PWSA satellites built by York Space Systems and SpaceX demonstrated inter-satellite links in 2024 between satellites built by the same vendor, and cross-vendor communications. The German company is expanding into the U.S. with a new facility in Merritt Island, Florida, and increasing its production in Europe as well to meet demand. VS

Read previous versions of the 10 Hottest list: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019