Satellite Internet Still a Niche Product

Satellite internet is a topic that is receiving a lot of media attention, especially in connection with the war in Ukraine. The discussion usually revolves around Starlink and whether there are other providers that could replace the satellite network operated by SpaceX, which has been proven crucial for Ukraine's effort to stave off the Russian invasion. However, satellite internet also plays a role outside of military conflicts, as data from Statista Consumer Insights shows - albeit a rather small one.

Three percent of respondents to Statista's survey in Germany reported using satellite internet in their homes. This share was similarly low in France. The technology plays a somewhat larger role in Canada and the United States. This may be due to the fact that there are significantly more remote regions with poor broadband coverage across the vast North American continent.

In addition to the better-known Starlink, provider OneWeb also operates a network of small satellites in low Earth orbit, promising faster load times than other satellite networks. The company, which is part of Eutelsat, does not sell access to residential consumers, but offers services to businesses including transportation providers as well as governments and sells their capacities to commercial satellite internet providers, which often combine OneWeb's lower orbit satellites with higher orbit or geostatic satellites.