📈#073: 11,600 satellites, $270B in clean energy, but 350M still can't get online

As we reach the midpoint of 2025, we are taking a moment to catch our breath and reflect on the incredible journey we have so far shared on Market Mosiac. Since January, we have grown to a community of users of about 140,000 subscribers, with over 72 editions published weekly so far, and it’s a milestone we couldn't have achieved without you.

Your engagement has been the cornerstone of our success, as it also fuels our commitment to delivering cutting-edge insights week after week.

Now, as usual, welcome to Market Mosaic, where, in this week's edition, we explore the collision of consumer caution and technological advancement across transportation and analyse the satellite internet that's connecting 350 million previously unreachable consumers while Asian logistics companies challenge delivery standards.

Let’s dive into the insights and enjoy.

— Insights Team, Rwazi

In our edition this week:

• Sector Performance Tracker

• Technology

• Economy

• Consumer Universe

• Supply Chain
  

The autonomous vehicles are now experiencing significant momentum, with Tesla launching its first small-scale robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, and Waymo expanding to Atlanta. However, consumer adoption remains cautious due to safety concerns and technological limitations.

In China, the robotaxi market is more advanced, with Apollo Go operating approximately 1,000 vehicles across major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Chinese consumers show greater acceptance of autonomous vehicles, with multiple operators competing for market share through increasingly competitive fare structures disrupting traditional taxi services.

Our analysis shows current limitations include geographic restrictions, time-of-day constraints, and the continued need for remote safety operators or on-board drivers. Recent setbacks, such as GM's abandonment of the Cruise project following a 2023 accident in San Francisco, seem to show ongoing safety and regulatory challenges that continue to influence consumer confidence.

Data analysis by Market Mosaic has shown that global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) now has a strategic shift toward long-term structural sectors, with renewable energy maintaining its dominance by attracting $270.1 billion and retaining the top position for six consecutive years despite a decline in mega-projects.

Meanwhile, the communications sector has seen explosive growth, rising 83.6% year-over-year to $165.7 billion, driven primarily by data centre investments and hosting infrastructure needs. Semiconductors also captured $120.3 billion, marking their second-best year on record as global foundries expanded operations worldwide.

Interestingly, while Software & IT led in project count with 2,790 initiatives, it attracted only $49.3 billion in capital, showing a divergence between project volume and capital intensity. This now suggests that investors are prioritising hardware infrastructure over software development in their strategic allocation decisions.

The satellite internet industry has now exploded in popularity to reach previously underserved populations at increasingly reasonable prices. Starlink now dominates with over 5 million customers across 125 countries, making satellite internet more accessible than traditional fixed broadband in many regions.

Approximately 350 million people worldwide still lack access to high-speed mobile internet, and this has created a massive addressable market. The disparity is stark: while 99% of Americans have high-speed broadband access, only about 50% of people in many developing markets do. QianFan has also reportedly signed deals in over 30 countries, particularly in markets where Starlink faces regulatory challenges.

The cost barrier remains significant, with megaconstellation launches requiring at least $10 billion in investment and individual launches costing approximately $60 million. However, in many countries, Starlink is already cheaper than leading fixed internet service providers.

J&T Express has built a $10 billion delivery empire by capitalising on the explosive growth of Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop across Southeast Asia.

Founded in Jakarta in 2015, the company now operates in 13 countries and is out-delivering established players, including Amazon, in the region.

The company's hybrid model combines self-owned infrastructure with regional partnerships, allowing it to compete effectively in markets where building from scratch would be prohibitively expensive. This approach has proven particularly effective for serving cross-border e-commerce, which has become a dominant force in Southeast Asian consumer behavior.

J&T Express is now pivoting toward direct brand contracts with companies like Sephora and Uniqlo to reduce reliance on marketplace platforms.

We are now officially halfway through 2025, and if the review of our subscriber engagement, views and open rates in H1 is any indication, we are happy to share that our readers really loved these editions, showing our community's appetite for valuable analyses and insights on global markets.

Here's a midyear look at our top 10 most-read editions of the year to date:

1. 📈#072: This $29.6B market trend defied all predictions

2. 📈#070: Why U.S. financial markets grew 185% while GDP only rose 88%

3. 📈#071: Inside India's $150B e-commerce market as US consumer confidence collapses 18%

4. 📈#067: Inside America's $1.11T services dominance

5. 📈#063: Malaysia's tech surge vs. Vietnam's tariff troubles

6. 📈#049: How consumers saved $230 on shopping using AI

7. 📈#065: China's exports surge 13.6x as Brazil's 9.2% interest rate tops global chart 

8. 📈#055: Spending surges with TikTok's $6B milestone amid 3% inflation 

9. 📈#050: The 77% hiring boom & CPG's $795M gamble that changed everything

10. 📈#066: Nvidia's $500B bet will change everything you buy

Here are the insightful visuals we shared on LinkedIn — feel free to check them out, comment or repost if it hits home for you.