Europe’s largest low Earth orbit satellite operator, Eutelsat, is prepared to step in and replace billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink in Ukraine if necessary, the company’s CEO said on Tuesday.
Europe has been looking for a replacement for Starlink after Elon Musk seemed to suggest that if his satellites were switched off, the entire Ukrainian “front line would collapse.”
In an interview with AFP on Tuesday, Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke said her company was “the only alternative” to Musk’s Starlink.
She added that despite having a much smaller fleet of around 600 satellites, compared to Starlink's approximately 7,000, her company can still provide “perfect coverage” over Ukraine.
“I don’t think that’s a big problem... for important military requirements, the capacity we have today in Ukraine is more than enough,” Berneke said.
She went on to say that because Eutelsat's satellites are farther from Earth, the company can provide the same capacity as Starlink, even with fewer satellites.
However, due to the limited number of ground terminals, Eutelsat would be unable to provide internet access to all residents in war-torn Ukraine.
Starlink’s use in Ukraine has been largely sponsored by Poland, which, according to the country’s Ministry of Digital Affairs, has spent around €77 million on over 24,500 Starlink terminals sent to Ukraine.
The ministry added that Poland will spend approximately €18.4 million on Starlink subscriptions in 2025.
In an interview with AFP on Tuesday, Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke said her company was “the only alternative” to Musk’s Starlink.
She added that despite having a much smaller fleet of around 600 satellites, compared to Starlink's approximately 7,000, her company can still provide “perfect coverage” over Ukraine.
“I don’t think that’s a big problem... for important military requirements, the capacity we have today in Ukraine is more than enough,” Berneke said.
She went on to say that because Eutelsat's satellites are farther from Earth, the company can provide the same capacity as Starlink, even with fewer satellites.
However, due to the limited number of ground terminals, Eutelsat would be unable to provide internet access to all residents in war-torn Ukraine.
Starlink’s use in Ukraine has been largely sponsored by Poland, which, according to the country’s Ministry of Digital Affairs, has spent around €77 million on over 24,500 Starlink terminals sent to Ukraine.
The ministry added that Poland will spend approximately €18.4 million on Starlink subscriptions in 2025.
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