SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with Eutelsat satellite for first time after merger
Eutelsat, the world’s third-largest satellite operator by revenue, successfully launched 20 satellites for its communications network on Sunday, marking its first deployment since the merger with Britain’s OneWeb last year. The launch took place aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 0513 GMT.
“This is the first OneWeb launch of the satellites since the merger,” said CEO Eva Berneke in an interview with Reuters. “We will be launching more satellites over the coming years.”
The Paris-based company, formed from the merger of France’s Eutelsat and OneWeb in September 2023, operates a constellation of over 600 low Earth orbit satellites, providing services to broadcasters, telecom companies, and radio stations.
Berneke emphasized the company’s ambition to integrate more deeply into the telecommunications ecosystem, stating, “Satellites are an interesting niche in the overall connectivity ecosystems where telcos are the big players, and satellite will always be a smaller part.”
Eutelsat counts major telecom operators, including France’s Orange and Australia’s Telstra, among its clients and is currently in discussions with companies such as AT&T in the U.S. The company boasts a substantial backlog of orders valued at $4 billion.
Eutelsat is closely monitoring regulatory developments in key markets like India and Saudi Arabia, which are in the process of opening up their satellite services. Berneke noted, “We have some of our backlog sitting in the Indian market… It sits there until India gets open. The day it gets open, we’ll start building.”
India is projected to experience significant growth, with its satellite services market expected to expand by 36% annually to reach $1.9 billion by 2030. The region has seen tensions between domestic companies and international players like Starlink.
In addition to expanding its satellite offerings, Eutelsat is exploring partnerships with aviation companies to provide in-flight connectivity, including internet services, with expectations for revenue growth starting next year.
