Low-orbit satellites are changing the world. SpaceX, Amazon and China in the race for dominance
LEO satellites, thanks to their proximity to Earth, offer faster response, lower launch costs and improved communication speeds compared to satellites in higher orbits.
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They operate in constellations, which allows them to cover a global range, although their trajectories require more advanced management. According to the Space IQ report, investments in the space sector increased from USD 25 billion. in 2024 to over USD 45 billion. in 2025
“Access to space is becoming a strategic asset, just like ports or energy networks on Earth,” noted Carlos Moreira, president of the Swiss company Wisekey, in an interview with CNBC.
Major projects in orbit
The most visible example of this change is Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite network. SpaceX, a company owned by Musk, currently manages a fleet of over 9,500 satellites and plans further expansion. SpaceX has also proposed a solar-powered orbital data center project that could include up to a million satellites in the future.
Read also: A million satellites above our heads. SpaceX's ambitious plan is to revolutionize artificial intelligence
Other tech giants are not left behind either. Nvidia presented a platform that will enable artificial intelligence to be launched into orbit.
“Space computing, the final frontier, has arrived” – emphasized Jensen Huang, president of Nvidia, during the GTC 2026 conference.
Amazon, as part of its LEO (formerly Kuiper) project, plans to deploy over 3,000 satellites. In turn, Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' company, announced the launch of over 5,000 satellites by 2027.
In Europe, the OneWeb network, managed by Eutelsat, is attracting attention and currently consists of over 600 satellites. France, wanting to strengthen its position in this sector, invested EUR 1.35 billion in Eutelsat, becoming the company's largest shareholder.
Read also: This could be the biggest debut in history. SpaceX is going public
China is also not left behind. They plan to build as many as 200,000. satellites in 14 constellations, highlighting global competition in the space sector.
Space investments and regulatory challenges
Since 2009, over $400 billion has been invested in the space economy, with the United States and China accounting for the largest share.
Space Capital CEO Chad Anderson notes that the sector is on “early stage of a multi-decade infrastructure cycle”but it already offers significant investment opportunities.
