European leaders are in discussions with French satelllite operator Eutelsat about the potential to replace Starlink’s satellite connectivity services in Ukraine, a vital resource during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Starlink, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been crucial in maintaining communications for Ukrainian military units since Russia’s invasion. Its satellite broadband has kept military forces connected and ensured the country’s communication networks remained resilient. However, there are now alternatives under consideration, with Eutelsat’s CEO Eva Berneke revealing that talks with European officials about potentially replacing Starlink have intensified.

The discussions come in the context of rising concerns over depending on a US-based company for such critical infrastructure. This concern has grown amid recent actions from the United States, including halting intelligence-sharing with Ukraine and reviewing its relationship with the country. Additionally, the US reportedly paused its cyber operations against Russia, prompting European leaders to reconsider their reliance on Starlink.

Eutelsat, which in 2022 merged with the UK’s OneWeb, a competitor to Starlink, provides satellite connectivity through a smaller constellation of satellites in higher orbits compared to Starlink’s vast network in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Though Eutelsat has not yet caught up to Starlink’s scale, recent geopolitical shifts have raised interest in diversifying satellite connectivity sources.

According to Joanna Darlington, Eutelsat’s Chief Communications Officer, the company’s LEO services already cover parts of Ukraine, providing coverage and latency on par with Starlink’s offerings across Europe. Furthermore, Eutelsat’s Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) services could add capacity and further strengthen Ukraine’s critical infrastructure resilience.

Despite its potential, Eutelsat faces challenges, including the high cost of its OneWeb terminals, priced around $10,000 compared to Starlink’s $600 units. There’s also the issue of scale. While OneWeb is operational in Ukraine, Starlink has approximately 40,000 terminals on the ground that would need replacing. Eutelsat has a stock of several thousand terminals, but scaling production to meet demand could take a few months.

Eutelsat is already collaborating with European institutions and partners to ensure rapid deployment of additional terminals for both civilian and military needs. If the demand for Eutelsat’s services grows, the company is prepared to scale production of the necessary terminals in collaboration with industry partners.