Press Release: Access Partnership launches landmark report charting ASEAN’s $47.8 billion satellite connectivity future  

New report highlights economic benefits of deploying NGSO systems across Southeast Asia and calls for urgent regulatory harmonisation.

SINGAPORE, 18 May 2026 – Access Partnership, a leading frontier technology consultancy, today launched a new report mapping the transformative economic potential of Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite systems to facilitate connectivity gains for ASEAN’s digital future. 

The research ‘Growth through connectivity: Supporting ASEAN’s vision with non-geostationary satellite systems’, outlines a comprehensive economic and development focused outlook of the potential impact of NGSO systems across the Southeast Asia region, and concludes that deploying NGSO systems as part of the region’s connectivity mix could generate USD 47.8 billion in annual economic benefits, create up to 3.8 million jobs, and save at least USD 15 billion in infrastructure deployment costs, but only if governments act to modernise their regulatory frameworks.  

Despite rapid digital progress, more than 150 million people across ASEAN, particularly in rural, landlocked, and archipelagic communities still lack reliable and affordable internet access. The report argues that NGSO systems, with their extensive coverage, lower infrastructure requirements, and reduced latency compared to traditional geostationary satellites, offer a uniquely viable solution to close this connectivity gap and support infrastructure and trade development.

Hamza Hameed, Head of Space & Development at Access Partnership, commented: “Reliable, affordable connectivity is a pivotal near-term economic opportunity for Southeast Asia. With the region’s resilience and growth closely tied to closing the connectivity gap, space, specifically non-geostationary satellites, offers the opportunity to expand internet access, and unlock new economic value in some of the region’s most underserved communities.” 

While the technology is ready, modern regulatory and policy frameworks are necessary to realise these gains at scale. By simplifying and aligning regulation, governments of the region can broaden the regional connectivity mix to drive a more inclusive, competitive digital economy.” 

This report helps inform ongoing engagement with the region’s policy leaders and highlights the practical steps to enabling deployment and ensure the benefits of next generation connectivity to support those who need it most.”

Key highlights:

• Economic growth: Improved internet coverage and usage enabled by NGSO deployment could generate USD 47.8 billion in annual economic benefits and create up to 3.8 million jobs across the region. 

• Infrastructure savings: Deploying NGSO systems alongside terrestrial infrastructure could save mobile network operators at least USD 15 billion in backhaul deployment costs (the high-capacity middle-mile connections linking the core backbone to local last-mile networks). 

• Trade and logistics: Wider use of IoT for vehicle and cargo tracking through NGSO-enabled connectivity could generate USD 33.6 billion in road logistics savings. 

• Disaster resilience: Expanded NGSO coverage could deliver USD 9.3 billion in cost savings by enhancing early warning systems, real-time infrastructure monitoring and preventing infrastructure damage across the region’s disaster-prone communities. 

• Connectivity gap and affordability: Nearly half of ASEAN’s population resides in rural zones with limited or no internet connectivity, with access most constrained in landlocked and archipelagic regions. NGSO systems offer a potentially viable option to increase affordability and coverage. 

Policy Recommendations:

The report calls on ASEAN governments and regional bodies to take three core actions to unlock NGSO’s potential: 

1. Reduce barriers to adoption by developing cross-border satellite regulatory frameworks, modernising outdated interference rules, and supporting sufficient spectrum availability for LEO services. 

2. Broaden usage by promoting digital adoption for MSMEs, advancing AI and emerging technologies, and investing in regional knowledge sharing and upskilling programmes. 

Strengthen public-private collaboration to respond effectively to cybercrime and bolster cybersecurity through user education and coordinated enforcement to create safe digital environments to encourage adoption at scale. 

Growth through connectivity: Supporting ASEAN’s vision with non-geostationary satellite systems was produced by Access Partnership, commissioned by Amazon Leo. The full report is available here. 

ENDS 

Media Contact 

Sarah Nadif, Director of Communications, Access Partnership [email protected]