Visiongain has published a new report entitled 6G & Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) Market Report 2026-2036 (Including Impact of U.S. Trade Tariffs): Forecasts by Offering (Services, Hardware & Software), by Deployment Model (Bent-Pipe, Regenerative Payload (gNB-in-Space), Hybrid Terrestrial–Satellite), by Device Type (Fixed/User Terminals & Antennas, Fixed/User Terminals & Antennas, IoT Modules & Terminals, Other), by Platform (LEO, MEO, GEO, HAPS/HIBS, UAV Relay), by Frequency Band (Ka-band (~26.5–40 GHz), L-band (~1–2 GHz), S-band (~2–4 GHz), C-band (~4–8 GHz), Ku-band (~12–18 GHz), Other) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies.

The global 6G & non-terrestrial networks (NTN) market is estimated at US$9,660.8 million in 2026 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 32.3% during the forecast period 2026-2036.

Impact of US Trade Tariffs on the Global 6G & Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) Market  

The introduction and escalation of U.S. tariffs on advanced telecommunications equipment, semiconductors, and satellite components have introduced new complexities into the global 6G and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) ecosystem. As the U.S. seeks to safeguard its domestic supply chain and reduce dependency on foreign technology—particularly from China—tariffs have become a key instrument shaping the strategic landscape of next-generation connectivity. These trade measures affect the cost structure, manufacturing timelines, and R&D collaboration models of companies engaged in the 6G and NTN value chain, including satellite operators, hardware manufacturers, and network infrastructure providers. The global response varies by region: allied economies such as Japan, South Korea, and the EU are reinforcing domestic production capabilities, while emerging markets are reassessing their import strategies to mitigate cost inflation. The overall market trajectory will depend on how quickly the supply chain adapts, leading to distinct recovery patterns such as V-shaped, U-shaped, or L-shaped outcomes.

Standardisation of NTN in 3GPP and Early Alignment with IMT-2030 (6G) Architectures

Another fundamental driver is the rapid mainstreaming of NTN into global cellular standards, which drastically reduces technical and commercial risk for vendors and operators. 3GPP Release 17 was the first to introduce normative NTN requirements, adding support for New Radio (NR) based satellite connectivity, NB-IoT and eMTC over satellite, and enabling handheld devices to connect to FR1 satellite bands. This makes NTNs part of the same technology family as 5G-Advanced, rather than a parallel proprietary ecosystem. Industry groups such as 5G Americas highlight that Release-17 NTN can now deliver tens of Mbps downlink with round-trip delay of a few tens of milliseconds, sufficient for messaging, IoT and basic broadband. On the 6G side, initiatives like Hexa-X and Hexa-X-II explicitly frame tight integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks as a core design principle for IMT-2030, arguing that starting 6G with built-in NTN integration will create a cost-efficient, seamless global coverage fabric. This maturing standards environment reduces vendor lock-in, enables economies of scale and assures investors that NTN is not a speculative side bet, but a structural component of future 6G architectures.

How will this Report Benefit you?

Visiongain’s 450-page report provides 127 tables and 212 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the 6G & non-terrestrial networks (NTN) market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for 6G & non-terrestrial networks (NTN). Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including offering, deployment model, device type, platform, and frequency band, and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing 6G & non-terrestrial networks (NTN) market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company.

What are the Current Market Drivers?

Strong Commercial Momentum and Capital Flows into Satellite NTN Platforms and Ecosystems

The global satellite NTN market is no longer just about experimental pilots; it is scaling into a multi-billion-dollar industry, attracting serious capital and strategic moves from both space and telecom players. Polaris Market Research estimates the satellite NTN market at about US$286 million in 2024, with projections to reach over US$5.1 billion by 2034, implying a CAGR of roughly 33.5%. At the same time, leaders like SpaceX are making aggressive spectrum acquisitions—such as a reported US$17 billion deal for spectrum from EchoStar—to consolidate their lead in direct-to-cell services and support higher-capacity LEO networks. AST SpaceMobile, despite facing competitive pressure and analyst downgrades, has raised substantial funding and signed deals with AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone and others to build a global D2D network with around 60 satellites. These moves signal to the broader market that NTN is now a strategic growth arena for telcos, satellite operators, chipmakers, and ground-segment vendors, reinforcing a positive feedback loop: more capital leads to more launches and trials, which in turn creates more confidence and further investment.

Mission-Critical Connectivity Needs for Remote Industries, Massive IoT, and Environmental Monitoring

Beyond consumer smartphones, 6G & NTN growth is powered by industrial and IoT use cases where traditional networks struggle: offshore wind farms, transoceanic shipping, mining sites, precision agriculture, border surveillance, pipelines, and wildlife or climate monitoring. 5G Americas points out that Release-17 NTN includes NB-IoT and eMTC over satellite specifically to support massive IoT applications such as agriculture, logistics and asset tracking across remote regions. IoT-focused companies like GroundControl emphasise how direct-to-device satellite IoT allows unmodified sensors—like trackers and temperature probes—to connect over satellite outside cellular coverage, dramatically simplifying deployments that move in and out of coverage. Non-terrestrial platforms such as LEO, MEO, GEO, high-altitude platforms (HAPS) and UAV-based base stations can extend 6G to “infrastructure-less” environments, as referenced in Hexa-X-II, enabling real-time data collection for environmental protection, smart logistics, and critical infrastructure monitoring. These use cases require low-power, wide-area, resilient links over vast geographies, making NTN an indispensable component of the 6G value proposition.

Where are the Market Opportunities?

Universal Connectivity and Digital Inclusion for Underserved Rural, Maritime and Aeronautical Regions

One of the clearest opportunities for 6G & NTN is to finally deliver near-universal broadband and basic mobile services where terrestrial towers will never be economically viable. T-Mobile’s T-Satellite, built on Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellites, explicitly targets over 500,000 square miles in the US that lack any cell coverage, and similar initiatives are underway in other regions. For emerging markets in Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia, integrated 6G–NTN architectures can leapfrog the need for dense terrestrial roll-outs, providing schools, clinics, farms and villages with reliable connectivity using standard phones or low-cost CPEs. 6G vision documents like Hexa-X-II emphasise that integrating NTN from day one allows “infrastructure-less environments” to be served more cost-efficiently, while IEEE ComSoc highlights NTNs as a way to deliver energy-efficient links to disaster-prone and remote regions. This creates powerful opportunities for operators, satellite providers and development agencies to co-fund universal service projects, supported by multilateral banks and digital inclusion programs.

Resilient 6G Communications for Disaster Response, Defense and Critical Infrastructure Protection

Another high-value opportunity lies in resilient, sovereign communication capabilities for governments, defense forces, emergency services and critical infrastructure operators. Non-terrestrial platforms are inherently less vulnerable to localised disasters—such as floods, earthquakes, wildfires and hurricanes—that can knock out ground towers and fibre, making them ideal for backup connectivity, command-and-control links, and rapid restoration. IEEE ComSoc has underscored how NTNs (satellites, HAPS, UAV-based base stations) can provide reliable, energy-efficient connectivity in disaster-prone regions where power and access are limited. Regulators like the FCC have already granted temporary NTN clearances to support areas hit by events such as Hurricane Helene, illustrating how satellite capacity can be mobilised quickly for public safety. In the 6G timeframe, integrating NTN into critical communication networks for utilities, transportation corridors, border security and defense means operators can offer premium resilience services—with higher margins and long-term contracts—far beyond best-effort consumer connectivity.

Competitive Landscape

The major players operating in the 6G & non-terrestrial networks (NTN) market are EchoStar Corporation, Ericsson, GlobalStar, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Intelsat, Keysight Technologies, MediaTek Inc., Nokia Corporation, OQ Technology, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., SpaceX (Starlink), Telefonica, Viavi Solutions, Vodafone Group Plc, ZTE, These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, collaborations, investment in R&D, regional business expansion, partnerships, and new product launch.

Recent Developments

• 07-Nov-25, Vodafone & AST SpaceMobile establish a sovereign European satellite broadband program. Germany selected for the Satellite Operations Centre (Munich or Hannover). SATCO (Luxembourg-based JV) will operate the constellation. AST files with ITU for a new mid-band satellite system. Goal: ubiquitous mobile broadband for underserved Europe, support emergency agencies, and serve MNOs across 21 EU states. Commercial launch planned from 2026.
• 07-Nov-25, Nokia and Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT) signed a strategic agreement to co-develop a tactical 5G defense communication system for the Baltic region. The system integrates Nokia’s 5G radio technology with LMT’s defense expertise to provide secure, high-speed, and resilient tactical networks enabling real-time data exchange among unmanned systems, sensors, and troops — a foundational capability for 6G-era defense communications.
• 05-Nov-25, Keysight collaborates with MediaTek to advance pre-6G Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). Demonstration merges communication and sensing in a single radio, improving spectral efficiency vs. 5G methods. Results shared at Brooklyn 6G Summit 2025, contributing to upcoming 3GPP 6G ISAC standardization.
• 03-Nov-25, Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz jointly developed an AI-enhanced 6G radio receiver that uses machine learning to reduce signal distortion and extend uplink coverage at higher frequencies. Validated by Nokia Bell Labs, the innovation boosts uplink distance and coverage efficiency, lowering rollout costs and accelerating 6G deployment readiness.
• 07-Oct-25, University of Texas at Austin’s 6G@UT research program selects Keysight’s 6G solutions to advance digital twin research for wireless and autonomous systems. Keysight tools enable high-fidelity virtual modeling for next-gen 6G wireless experimentation and system optimization.

Notes for Editors

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