Eutelsat: Challenges and Opportunities in Ukraine

The European satellite operator Eutelsat is currently unable to fully replace Starlink in Ukraine.

This is reported by Politico.

CEO Eva Berneke stated, "If we had to take on all the communication capacity for Ukraine, we wouldn't be able to do it." "However, we can meet key government needs."

Currently, Starlink provides critical communication for military, hospitals, and government entities. Elon Musk warned in March that "the entire front line would collapse" if Starlink is turned off in Ukraine.

The European Union is exploring options to diversify access to satellite communication, including through Eutelsat, but the company itself acknowledges that it cannot completely replace Musk's system at this time.

According to Eva, the current dependency on Starlink could be addressed "in the White House or at Mar-a-Lago."

The main issue is the lack of investment in low-orbit satellites that provide fast communication with minimal latency, which is critical for the military and drones.

Starlink has over 7,000 satellites, while Eutelsat has only 600. "I don't think we need to approach that number, but having at least a couple thousand... to have a backup in critical places would be prudent," she added.

She also emphasized, "Recent weeks have shown that multiple sources are needed for military and government communication."

The company is currently in negotiations with the EU for funding new satellite launches and increasing the number of terminals for users in Ukraine.

Also read: Satellite Blackmail: What Happens if Starlink is Turned Off in Ukraine

Reminder:

The German government has been funding Ukraine's access to satellite internet from Eutelsat for about a year, which also owns the OneWeb network.

Eutelsat announced it is negotiating with European governments to provide additional satellite communication in Ukraine, as investors believe the French satellite operator could replace Elon Musk's Starlink in the country.