Mobile Satellite Users Asociation

What Mobile Satellite Users Asociation does

The Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA) is a not-for-profit industry association founded in 1992 by Inmarsat to connect satellite mobile solutions users, operators, vendors, and government stakeholders. Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with 1-10 employees, MSUA generates revenue from annual membership dues, $500-per-category award nomination fees (non-members), and event sponsorships. Its primary intellectual property sits in community curation and brand recognition rather than technology platforms: the organization runs the annual Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards (10 categories in 2026), the Game Changers Live webcast series, The Pulse webinar series, a weekly Satellite Mobile News newsletter with 526+ archived posts, an industry events calendar, and a members portal.

MSUA's member base spans global satellite operators (Iridium, Globalstar, Viasat, Inmarsat, Hughes/EchoStar), satellite technology vendors (Integrasys, Kymeta, Mission Microwave, AccelerComm, NI, Ovzon, Galaxy, Skymira, Endeavour), end users across aviation, maritime, land mobility, IoT, and government (Delta Air Lines, Missouri City TX), and emerging D2D players (Omnispace, Lynk Global, Pulsar Beyond, Skywave/Orbcomm, Space42, Mavenir). Its 2026 Board of Directors is chaired by Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch (CEO, Resolute Strategies; former Inmarsat U.S. Government executive) with Roger Lanctot serving as President. External credibility is anchored by a judging panel including ESA, Hogan Lovells, Quilty Space, Novaspace, and Satnews Publishers, and by Amazon LEO's keynote at the 2026 awards luncheon.

Distribution is digital-first via msua.org, LinkedIn, YouTube, and weekly e-newsletters, with the single highest-leverage in-person touchpoint being the awards luncheon held during the annual SATELLITE conference in Washington, D.C. MSUA generates no API, app, or product revenue and has no disclosed parent, subsidiaries, or investor ownership; it operates as an independent member-governed body with revenue sufficient to sustain annual programming but no disclosed financials.

Name

Mobile Satellite Users Asociation

Legal name

Mobile Satellite Users Association

Website

https://msua.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA) is a not-for-profit industry association founded in 1992 that connects satellite mobile operators, technology vendors, and end users through membership, an annual innovation awards program, webcasts, newsletters, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mc Lean

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Annual membership fees providing access to member benefits including website visibility, newsletter promotion, social media amplification, award nominations, event discounts, and access to member portal
2. Award nomination fees: Non-members pay $500 per award category nomination while members receive complimentary nominations
3. Event sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities at the Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards providing website, social media, and event signage visibility

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA) is a not-for-profit industry association that provides membership services, industry recognition programs, and convening events for the global Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) ecosystem. Its core deliverables are annual Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards across 10 categories, the Game Changers Live and The Pulse webcast/webinar series, the weekly Satellite Mobile News newsletter, and a Members Portal offering visibility, networking, and business development opportunities for satellite operators, technology vendors, and end users worldwide.

Product overview

The Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA) is a not-for-profit organization (34 years old as of 2026) that serves as an industry association rather than a product company. Its core offerings include the Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards program recognizing satellite mobile innovation across multiple categories, the Game Changers Live webcast series featuring industry thought leaders, The Pulse webinar series, the weekly Satellite Mobile News newsletter, an Industry Events Calendar, and a Members Portal for exclusive member benefits. The association connects satellite mobile solutions users and innovators through membership, events, and industry recognition programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• 526 posts published across blog categories
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and general.

• Delta Air LinesmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 March 2026Delta Air Lines is a member and sponsor of MSUA events. The airline received the 2025 MSUA Satellite Mobile Innovation Award for Mobile User Experience Innovation, highlighting its in-flight connectivity initiatives.
• GlobalstarmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobalstar is a member company and award sponsor. The company won the 2026 IoT Mobility Innovation Award for its RM200M module and is positioned as an early leader in D2D deployment with Apple partnership.
• IntegrasyscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIntegrasys is a member, award sponsor, and 2026 Space Mobility Innovation award winner. The company develops LEOREG spectrum management solutions and has won multiple European defense programs.
• IridiummajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIridium is a member company and award sponsor. Winner of 2026 Land Mobility Innovation Award for Iridium Chat app. Iridium serves as a satellite operator partner for MSUA.
• Kymeta CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKymeta Corporation is an award sponsor of the 2026 Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards.
• Mission MicrowavecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMission Microwave is an award sponsor of the 2026 Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards.
• Omnispace + Lynk GlobalmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe soon-to-be merged organizations are award sponsors and won the 2026 Company to Watch award. Positioned as future of direct-to-device communications.
• Pulsar BeyondcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPulsar Beyond is an award sponsor and won the 2026 Chairman's Award for Environmental, Social, and Sustainability Impact for its Pulsar iO connectivity platform.
• NI (National Instruments)generalGTM or Marketing PartnerNI is a member of MSUA with company logo featured on the MSUA website.
• OvzongeneralGTM or Marketing PartnerOvzon is a member of MSUA with company logo featured on the MSUA website.
• SkymirageneralGTM or Marketing PartnerSkymira is a member of MSUA with company logo featured on the MSUA website.
• EndeavourgeneralGTM or Marketing PartnerEndeavour is a member of MSUA with company logo featured on the MSUA website.
• Hughes/EchoStargeneralGTM or Marketing PartnerHughes/EchoStar is a member of MSUA with company logo featured on the MSUA website.
• GalaxygeneralGTM or Marketing PartnerGalaxy (celebrating 30 years) is a member of MSUA with company logo featured on the MSUA website.
• AccelerCommgeneralGTM or Marketing PartnerAccelerComm is a member of MSUA with company logo featured on the MSUA website.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA Head of 5G/6G NTN Programme Office Antonio Franchi serves on the 2026 MSUA Satellite Mobile Innovation Awards judging panel, bringing 30+ years of satellite telecommunications experience.
• Satnews PublisherscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder & CEO Silvano Payne serves on the 2026 MSUA judging panel. Satnews publishes Satmagazine and MilsatMagazine reaching 25,000+ readers and produces three annual conferences.
• Quilty SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder Chris Quilty serves on the 2026 MSUA judging panel. Quilty Space provides subscription research and strategic advisory across the satellite and space industry.
• Hogan LovellscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner Randy Segal, Co-head of Space and Satellite Group, serves on the 2026 MSUA judging panel with extensive experience in satellite transactions and M&A.
• NovaspacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead of U.S. Office Zack Hester serves on the 2026 MSUA judging panel. Novaspace provides strategy and operations across the U.S. space sector.
• Amazon LEOmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMike Moran, Director of U.S. Government Business at Amazon LEO, keynoted the 2026 awards luncheon with 'The Network Effect: How Space Innovation is Changing the Equation' theme.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GSMA: Global mobile industry trade association representing mobile operators and the broader mobile ecosystem. Same industry-association business model as MSUA but at much greater scale — useful as a comparable for MSUA's awards (GSMA Awards) and member services structure.
• Commercial Spaceflight Federation: US trade association representing the commercial spaceflight industry. Same membership-association, advocacy-and-events model as MSUA, but serves the adjacent launch/spaceflight segment rather than mobile satellite users.

Others

• Satnews Publishers: Publisher of Satmagazine, MilsatMagazine, and three annual conferences covering the satellite industry. Adjacent ecosystem participant — its CEO serves on MSUA's judging panel — that reaches 25,000+ industry readers and represents a complementary (not competing) channel.

Direct peers

• Space Data Association: Non-profit association of satellite operators focused on data sharing, spectrum coordination, and space situational awareness. Same non-profit industry-association structure as MSUA with a member base drawn from many of the same satellite operators.
• WTA (World Teleport Association): Trade association for the teleport and satellite services industry. Same member-driven association model as MSUA, with overlapping operator/service-provider membership (Viasat, Hughes, etc.) and comparable certification, awards, and event programs.
• ESOA (EMEA Satellite Operators Association): Trade association representing European and global satellite operators. Comparable membership-based industry association model serving the satellite communications ecosystem, including operators MSUA members such as Inmarsat and Viasat.
• GVF (Global VSAT Forum): International association of the satellite communications industry focused on VSAT and broader satcom users/providers. Closest global peer to MSUA in mission — both convene satellite end users and operators through events, awards, and member programs.
• Satellite Industry Association (SIA): US-based trade association representing the commercial satellite industry. Most direct functional peer to MSUA — both operate as membership organizations promoting satellite industry interests, host events, and run advocacy programs for satellite operators and service providers.
• SSPI (Society of Satellite Professionals International): Professional society for the satellite industry. Same non-profit, member-driven model as MSUA, with comparable membership benefits, awards programs, and industry-recognition events targeted at satellite professionals and companies.

Regional players

• APSCC (Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council): Asia-Pacific regional satellite industry association. Operates the same membership-driven industry association model as MSUA but with geographic focus on Asia-Pacific; member companies overlap with MSUA's satellite operator and vendor roster.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/msuaorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mobilesatelliteusersassoci9520
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/msua

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mobile Satellite Users Asociation