Європейський оператор Eutelsat може замінити Starlink в Україні
Emotional statements, media leaks and the instability in relations between the US and Ukraine that has emerged in recent weeks have raised concerns about the future of Starlink satellite communications in our country. Satellite Internet from Elon Musk’s company plays an important role in meeting the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And its disconnection can have a very negative impact on the efficiency of operations. However, a holy place is never empty. Eutelsat services can be considered as an alternative to Starlink in Ukraine.
Eutelsat is a French-British company offering satellite communications services. It was founded back in 1977 and has a fleet of geostationary satellites covering Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. In light of recent developments, Eutelsat is considering expanding access to satellite internet in Ukraine as an alternative to Starlink. The company is already holding relevant negotiations with the EU in this regard.
«We are in talks with the EU about how we can help Ukraine», said the Eutelsat representative.
He also added that the company has geostationary satellites that can be used in Ukraine.
Eutelsat operates 35 geostationary satellites, and after acquiring the British company OneWeb in 2023, it expanded its network of low-orbit satellites to 600 units.
OneWeb’s satellites operate on the same principle as Starlink, which currently has approximately 7,000 satellites and provides Internet access in 125 countries. Eutelsat claims to provide the same coverage and signal latency as Starlink in Europe.
Earlier in the week, Eutelsat reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Europe’s satellite autonomy and providing internet to Ukraine.
Over the past 2 days, Eutelsat shares have more than tripled, adding more than €1 billion to the company’s market capitalization.
Until recently, the prospects of the European satellite industry were in doubt due to competition from the US, despite European Commission plans for the IRIS satellite system.
Source: reuters