The dynamic market for satellite services delivered directly to consumers is the largest and fastest growing market segment accounting for over $20 billion and growing at 30 percent per year. These important trends and other revealing market data on the global satellite industry were made available this week in a unique new 316-page publication.

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and Futron Corporation, in cooperation with George Washington University, today announced the release of the Satellite Industry Guide, the definitive resource for the commercial space industry.

This comprehensive guide, offering detailed statistics and analyses of the $66 billion commercial space industry is now available for purchase.

According to Clayton Mowry, SIA Executive Director, "Futron Corporation and SIA have tried to provide market analysts and corporate strategic planners with the tools they need most - benchmark statistics and clear explanations of key satellite industry indicators for each of the major market segments, and a complete discussion of the methodology used to obtain the results."

Based on a targeted annual survey of over 600 companies and other primary research data, the 1999-2000 Satellite Industry Guide delivers an insightful view of the industry today and trends that are shaping its future.

"This publication tells the story of an industry in transition; increasing demand for high-growth, high-revenue satellite consumer services is changing hardware, manufacturing, and launch systems," said Carissa Bryce Christensen, Director of Futron's Technology Management division.

Each chapter addresses a segment of the industry including satellite services, satellite manufacturing, launch services and ground equipment manufacturing.

"The Guide presents in-depth portraits of each satellite service application, discussing the nature of the service, the key companies involved, terrestrial competitors, and the key drivers of growth," said Futron Senior Space Industry Analyst and Guide Editor-in-Chief, Ethan E. Haase.

Satellite services is currently the largest and fastest growing segment of the industry, worth $26.2 billion. Rising demand for satellite services has become the driving force of growth and over the past few years, satellite capacity and revenues have increased with the increase in demand.

Satellite services delivered directly to the end-user (such as DTH television) have been the prime source of revenue growth. Satellite services revenue 23 percent from 1997 to 1998 to $26.2 billion.

End-user services accounted for $20.1 billion of this total, growing 30 percent from 1997 to 1998. Satellite manufacturing, a $12 billion segment, grew by 10 percent last year and ground equipment manufacturing generated revenues of $15.2 billion and employed nearly 50,000 people.

The Guide also contains on-orbit and proposed satellite tables, as well as specifications for available launch vehicles worldwide. While launch services revenue declined 11 percent from 1997 to 1998-reflecting the difficulties in delivering GEO satellites for launch and launch schedule delays-last year the segment had 32 commercial launches and was worth $4.3 billion.

With detailed industry indicators on commercial revenues and government budgets, and technology trends, the Satellite Industry Guide offers information unavailable through other sources. The Guide will answer questions of growth trends, international space programs, launch vehicles, data communications and more. It also includes a ground equipment glossary and information on major competitors and market share.

The Satellite Industry Guide is available for purchase from the Satellite Industry Association. For ordering information, please contract Tracy Jones via email at [email protected] or call 703-549-8697.

The Satellite Industry Guide price is $2,000 per copy-multi-copy discounts are available. SIA members are eligible to receive a 10 percent discount.