PNT services and GNSS infrastructure account for more than three-quarters of commercial space revenue as defense spending surges
PNT services alone represented about 41 percent of commercial revenue, fueled by GNSS-enabled devices and value-added applications ranging from smartphone navigation to precision agriculture, fleet management and financial timing services. The European Union Agency for the Space Programme estimated satellite-enabled PNT services generated $279.9 billion in 2025, up 18.3 percent from the previous year. Consumer applications, particularly in smartphones, remain the largest driver.
“These sectors are experiencing dynamic change,” said Carissa Christensen, CEO of BryceTech and Space Foundation board member. The Space Foundation’s latest report added new categories including In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing, and Lunar Activities, which showed gains of 23 percent and 43 percent, respectively.
Infrastructure segments also posted strong growth. Commercial satellite manufacturing revenues jumped 67.2 percent, while commercial launch revenues rose 49.4 percent, reflecting the expansion of large satellite constellations. Ground stations and equipment generated an estimated $139.8 billion, up 12.7 percent from 2024, driven largely by GNSS device sales, the report said.
A growing number of companies are working to commercialize PNT services through low-Earth orbit constellations designed to provide stronger, more resilient signals than traditional medium Earth orbit systems, the report said. Xona and TrustPoint are among the most prominent players pursuing this approach, targeting applications in telecommunications, autonomous systems and defense that require high-precision timing and navigation resistant to interference, the report said.
Defense spending is adding further momentum. The Pentagon aims to nearly double its national security space budget to $126 billion in fiscal 2027, pushing global military space spending past $150 billion for the first time. Non-U.S. military space spending is projected to nearly double to $31.5 billion. Government funding overall grew 7.4 percent to nearly $141 billion in 2025, with national defense remaining a key priority, the report said.
