Analysis
NAICS 517410 is the 2022 national industry for satellite telecommunications, part of 51741 (Satellite Telecommunications). Census lists 6 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 429 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 9,919 people at an average annual payroll of $152,953 per employee (97th percentile of national industries). 61% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include earth stations for satellite communication carriers, long-distance telephone satellite communication carriers, resellers, satellite telecommunication and satellite telecommunication carriers, among 6 in all.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 517111, 516210, 517810 and 54151. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, providing direct-to-home satellite television services to individual households or consumers are classified in 517111 (Wired Telecommunications Carriers) instead.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 5% and employment rose 20%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing telecommunications services to other establishments in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries by forwarding and receiving communications signals via a system of satellites or reselling satellite telecommunications.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing direct-to-home satellite television services to individual households or consumers | 517111 Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
| Operating television and radio broadcasting networks, including satellite television and radio networks, that produce media programming for distribution through cable, satellite, streaming, or Internet broadcasting | 516210 Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers |
| Operating satellite tracking stations and associated facilities | 517810 All Other Telecommunications |
| Providing expert advice in the field of information technology or in integrating communication and computer systems | 54151 Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
Index entries (6)
- Earth stations for satellite communication carriers
- Long-distance telephone satellite communication carriers
- Resellers, satellite telecommunication
- Satellite telecommunication carriers
- Satellite telecommunication resellers
- Telephone communications carriers, satellite