In Europe, when it comes to satellite communications, even more in full Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is often a matter of Starlink. It should be said that the company led by Elon Musk has taken off in front of its competitors, especially the Franco-British Etelsat.
Even if Eutelsat has been available for much longer, its delay is very important, to the point that an analysis of the European Union, made by its legislators and its analysts, explains that a larger investment is necessary to approve the business in another dimension.
In front of Starlink, Eutelsat will check its copy
A note that later seems that an investment of 1.5 billion euros must be approved on Tuesday, September 30 by the company’s shareholders, whose finances are not in good shape. Emmanuel Macron, who has personally directed negotiations on this agreement, also asked other European countries to put his hands in his pocket.
For Christophe Grudler, a member of the European Democratic Movement, the situation is urgent. According to him, the European Commission must be able to find alternatives to Starlink, which is American, also owned by the highly disputed billionaire Elon Musk. While the war in Ukraine is dragging, Eutelsat needs Germany “and other Member States” to finance everything: “Only one country (France) cannot carry this continental ambition in space,” he explains to the Reuters agency.
France, which is committed to 750 million euros, which represents a 29.65%participation, has always been able to count on Britain, a shareholder with 10.89%. Other private shareholders are also there, including French CMA-CGM (owner of BFMTV), the Strategic Participation Fund, as well as the Bharti Indian space, owned by multimillionaire Sunil Mittal.
This financial commitment is added to the change of government, with the arrival of a new managing director and a new president. A global visual change is also planned.
The perspective of a new investor in any case has reassured the scholarship, while the price gained 10% in a month. Since the beginning of 2025 and the sending of thousands of terminals in Ukraine, the title Etelsat has taken some colors compared to its lower historical to less than 2 euros at the end of February 2025. An action now is worth 3.38 euros.
Source: BFM TV
