France and the UK are strengthening their partnership in the satellite industry with a substantial joint investment in the European operator, Eutelsat. This strategic move positions Europe to better compete with the likes of Elon Musk's Starlink.
President Emmanuel Macron announced the UK's participation during a recent state visit, stating on X, “Thank you to our British friends for fully joining us in the next chapter of the Eutelsat adventure.” The UK's investment, reported to be €163 million by Les Echos, prevents dilution of its existing share following Eutelsat's recent recapitalization. This follows France's own significant investment of €1.35 billion in June. The French military has further solidified its commitment to satellite communications with a 10-year deal with OneWeb for services. This underlines the growing strategic importance of low earth orbit satellite constellations.
OneWeb, now owned by Eutelsat, received vital support from the UK Government initially before its sale. The combined investment demonstrates a clear commitment from both nations to bolster Europe's capabilities in the increasingly competitive global satellite market. The partnership underscores the strategic importance of satellite technology for national security and economic competitiveness.