Eutelsat Emerges as Potential Alternative to Starlink for Ukraine

As U.S. aid to Ukraine pauses, European satellite firm Eutelsat positions itself to fill potential gaps in critical military communications.

Ukraine's military heavily relies on Starlink for battlefield communication, as traditional networks have been damaged by the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The U.S. government, alongside Poland and other European countries, currently funds much of Ukraine's Starlink access, but recent U.S. aid suspension has raised concerns about its continuity.
Eutelsat, which merged with Britain's OneWeb in 2023, offers a smaller satellite network but claims comparable capabilities in Europe for government and defense applications.
Eutelsat's stock price has surged following speculation about its role in replacing Starlink, with the company stating it is ready to deploy additional equipment in Ukraine if needed.
European initiatives like IRIS² and GOVSATCOM are being explored as long-term alternatives, but they remain years away from full operational readiness.