Under Starlink’s impetus, the satellite Internet market is expanding throughout the world. He experienced a certain echo in Europe, as in France, making it possible to cover areas where the mobile network as a fixed Internet was not there.
With prices and performance particularly interesting in the meeting, it is Starlink, the startup of Elon Musk, who has forged the lion worldwide. The service was even offered to Ukrainian soldiers while the Russian invasion continues. Eutelsat, the European giant in the sector, has difficulty filling the void that separates it from its competitor and will also face another at the end of 2025 in Europe: Kuiper, owned by Amazon.
Of great ambition for Amazon and the Internet per satellite
The service has only 54 satellites on date, against 3,232 for Starlink and 600 for Eutelsat. But, by the end of the year, Amazon wants to increase this number and reach 400 devices in space.
Enough to be effective and offer competitive prices? This is what the online trade giant expects the Parisian: “To make a difference against other satellite solutions, we also trust a brand image and a quality post -sales service. These arguments can make a difference with future potential clients,” explains Yohann Benard, director of Public Affairs of Europe in Amazon.
For the company, the market is far from maturing: 40 million Europeans do not yet have very high speed Internet access. But do they also have access to the necessary funds to equip and have a satellite internet? This is the full equation that Kuiper will have to solve in a few months.
On the side of the technical promise, Amazon is content to remember at the moment when its satellites are in low orbit, between 590 and 630 kilometers of the earth. The Starlink are 450 kilometers. The closer the device, the better the flows and latency. Therefore, Amazon promises up to 1 GBIT/s for companies and governments, up to 100 mb/s for its most compact antenna for individuals. Starlink has a speed of around 200 MB/s on average.
The altitude is the main defect of Eutelsat, whose satellites are 35,000 kilometers from the earth, which causes problems with flow rates and the maintenance of the service.
In order not to be taxed as a totally American operator, Amazon assured the services of the European space industry, particularly signing with Arianespace, who will be responsible for sending part of his orbit satellites. An investment that represents 10 billion euros.
Source: BFM TV
