Could Eutelsat Replace Starlink in Ukraine: A Satellite Internet Showdown

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the crucial role of satellite internet in maintaining military communications, with Starlink being a vital component of Ukraine's defense strategy. However, recent suggestions that Ukraine could lose access to Starlink have sparked interest in European rival Eutelsat as a potential alternative. Eutelsat, with its global-coverage constellation of satellites in low earth orbit (LEO), may be able to provide the necessary communication services to support Ukraine's military efforts.

Starlink has been instrumental in maintaining Ukraine's military communications, particularly in areas where fixed-line and mobile networks have been damaged or destroyed. The satellite internet system has enabled Ukrainian forces to stay connected and coordinate their efforts, despite heavy signal jamming and interception of communications on the front lines. With tens of thousands of Starlink dishes and terminals deployed in Ukraine, the system has become virtually indispensable for battlefield command and control.

Eutelsat, with its merger with Britain's OneWeb in 2023, controls the only operational global-coverage constellation, besides Starlink, of satellites in LEO. While Eutelsat's constellation is smaller than Starlink's, with around 630 LEO satellites, it offers the same capabilities as Starlink in Europe. Eutelsat's satellites can provide broadband speeds of up to 150 megabits per second, although its terminals are more expensive than Starlink's, with a cost of up to $10,000 plus a monthly subscription fee.

The satellite internet market is becoming increasingly competitive, with several players vying to challenge Starlink's dominance. Luxembourg-based SES, for example, delivers satellite services to the Western NATO defense alliance via its medium earth orbit constellation of O3b mPOWER satellites. However, SES prioritizes corporate customers, governments, and militaries, offering no direct-to-consumer services. Other EU initiatives, such as IRIS² and GOVSATCOM, are also in development, although they are still years away from becoming fully operational.

As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the importance of reliable and secure communication services cannot be overstated. With Eutelsat emerging as a potential alternative to Starlink, the European satellite operator may play a critical role in supporting Ukraine's military efforts and maintaining the country's communication infrastructure. As the satellite internet market continues to grow and evolve, one thing is clear: the need for reliable and secure communication services will only continue to increase, driving innovation and investment in this critical sector.