NSG CEO Martijn Blanken on AI, D2D, and Sovereignty: The 2026 Playbook
Neo Space Group has moved fast in its first 18 months, acquiring capability in Earth Observation and in-flight connectivity. CEO Martijn Blanken lays out a direct view of what changed, what matters next, and where NSG is placing its bets as the company builds Saudi Arabia's space backbone.
What Changed Since NSG's Launch
Three shifts define the current market. First, SpaceX's vertical integration and Starlink's scale arrived faster than predicted, and their move into direct-to-device (D2D) is increasing pressure across the board. Second, traditional players are chasing cost reduction through consolidation.
Third, sovereignty is now front and center. Nations want control over space infrastructure and sensitive geospatial intelligence. The message: dependence is a risk, and procurement is moving accordingly.
D2D: Where It Works-and Where It Doesn't
D2D splits into two main use cases: resilient, non-jammable connectivity for crises, and consumer coverage where terrestrial networks fall short. Serving both with a single architecture is tough. GEO has coverage constraints for handhelds; dedicated national LEO is impractical because satellites traverse other countries.
Spectrum policy complicates consumer D2D. Some players are promising, yet unproven at scale. Example: AST SpaceMobile has strong momentum yet still has technical and regulatory gates to clear. Saudi Arabia is assessing options with a measured strategy-no single vendor lock-in, no rushed bets.
Global Events as Real-World Testbeds
World Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup will demand flawless connectivity and precision planning. Geospatial intelligence will guide infrastructure buildouts-transport, stadiums, urban development-faster and with higher confidence than traditional methods.
During events, satellite broadband, narrowband, and D2D will augment terrestrial networks in remote and high-density zones. Expect live, public proof points of what the Kingdom's space stack can deliver.
Sovereignty: From Concept to Operating Model
For NSG, sovereignty is a design constraint, not a slogan. Defense and intelligence demand shapes capacity first; commercial use follows. The company has defined a "sovereignty readiness level" model that recognizes different national end-states.
The high bar is full domestic capability-designing and manufacturing active satellite components with MAIT onshore. That's a multi-year path, but it's the direction of travel. The aim is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the broader shift to domestic defense and space industries.
Defense: Resilience Over Everything
Defense demand is growing. Communications must resist jamming, hacking, and spoofing-across space and ground terminals. The real question for each nation: how reliant should we stay on foreign vendors?
NSG is being pulled deeper into discussions about local solutions, which expands scope and complexity. The opportunity is significant, and timelines are compressing.
AI: Turning Petabytes Into Decisions
Definition matters. NSG frames AI as machine learning models that extract actionable insights from massive datasets. That's where geospatial is maturing fast. With UP42, NSG connects satellite and ground data in a single marketplace and is embedding analytics directly into the platform-customers can bring their own models or tap NSG's.
In satcom, AI adds value through smarter network operations, predictive maintenance, and collision avoidance. Less headline-grabbing, but vital for reliability and cost discipline.
Quantum: Keep It Realistic
Quantum computing draws attention, but commercial viability is still years out. Potential benefits include far more onboard processing to reduce downlink needs. The trade-off is power: more compute means more energy, mass, and cost.
NSG is exploring options without overselling timelines. No concrete use cases yet-but it's on the roadmap.
Multi-Orbit Is Inevitable
No LEO constellation will secure landing rights everywhere. If you need true global reach-especially for aviation-you use GEO, MEO, and LEO together. NSG's IFC footprint, including coverage in China and India, underscores the point: multi-orbit isn't a nice-to-have; it's the only way to cover every route with consistency.
IFC: From Bandwidth to Passenger Experience
Airlines are switching providers as LEO proves its place. The leap from "send a few messages" to high-quality video calls is real. But bandwidth is only the start.
The next wave is experience and monetization. Think: integrated entertainment, loyalty-driven commerce, and onboard transactions-like spending points on duty-free with fulfillment on landing. Delivering that requires a full stack across satellite, software, and partnerships.
2026: NSG's Next Three Moves
- Domestic milestones: A slate of announcements inside the Kingdom as the space stack matures.
- Geospatial subscriptions: Move from project-based services to ongoing access via the new analytics platform.
- Regional bridge for LEO: Be the trusted local partner for global LEO operators entering the Middle East-while preserving Saudi sovereignty.
Executive Takeaways
- Plan for D2D by use case, not hype. Crisis-grade resilience and consumer coverage require different architectures and policy paths.
- Build sovereignty as a capability ladder. Sequence MAIT, manufacturing, and mission operations over time-don't try to do everything at once.
- Treat multi-orbit as default for aviation, defense, and national-scale connectivity.
- Shift geospatial from "deliverables" to "decisions"-recurring insights beat one-off maps.
- Prioritize terminal resilience and spectrum strategy as much as satellite capacity.
If you're standing up internal AI capacity to support geospatial analytics and network operations, these executive-friendly AI upskilling options can help your teams move faster with fewer missteps.
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