New organisation aims to give a voice to NGSO satcoms

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Satellite Networks; 26 June 2026; 234 views

Satellite operators Amazon, Iridium, Telesat and Globalstar have announced the formation of a new trade association representing the non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite economy: the SpaceConnect Association.

The companies say SpaceConnect will advocate globally for policies that support the growth, innovation and responsible deployment of NGSO satellite systems – also known as low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. It is described as the first and only trade association dedicated to advocating for NGSO operators to ensure a competitive, multi-provider market that delivers for governments, businesses and consumers.

The group says it will engage with international institutions, governments and the industry to ensure NGSO systems continue to play a central role in advancing global connectivity, economic development and space sustainability.

SpaceConnect will be led by Executive Director David Redl, who previously served as head of the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and General Counsel Julie Kearney, the first Chief of the Space Bureau at the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Redl says: “As governments around the world make critical decisions about spectrum, market access and space stewardship, we are committed to working with policymakers and stakeholders to enable a competitive, secure and resilient connectivity ecosystem.”

Kearney adds: “SpaceConnect will bring deep expertise and a global perspective to advancing policies that foster innovation while ensuring safe and responsible operations in low Earth orbit. By advocating for updated licensing processes, efficient spectrum access and industry-led best practices, we aim to help unleash the full potential of NGSO systems for governments, businesses, and communities worldwide."

However, as the Space News website points out, SpaceX is absent from this organisation despite having by far the largest NGSO constellation. It reports Redl saying in a media briefing that SpaceConnect remains open to including SpaceX, whose 10,000 satellites in NGSO are, as the website notes, around 22 times the number operated by the association’s members combined.

Still, there are already urgent global NGSO issues to address such as next year’s World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), where international spectrum rules will be negotiated, and the proposed EU Space Act, which, Redl says “is designed to foster protectionism for … particular nationalities of operators”.

He notes that SpaceConnect will be distinct from the decades-old Satellite Industry Association, by giving NGSO players a dedicated voice on issues where they may not be aligned with the broader satellite industry.

SpaceConnect is starting with communications-focused members, but is apparently not necessarily tied to connectivity, implying that Earth observation and other parts of the NGSO market could at some stage, apply for membership.