Eutelsat uses a SpaceX rocket to launch the first satellites after integration
The SpaceX logo is scanned on a mobile phone for an iconic image.
Beata Zawrzel Nurphoto Getty Images
Eutelsat, the world’s third-largest satellite operator by revenue, launched 20 satellites into its communications network on Sunday, using Elon Musk’s SpaceX in its first launch since the two European companies merged last year.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off, with the Eutelsat satellites from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 0513 GMT.
“This is OneWeb’s first launch of satellites since the merger,” CEO Eva Berneke told Reuters in an interview. “We will launch more satellites in the coming years.”
The Paris-based group formed from last September’s merger of France’s Eutelsat and Britain’s OneWeb has a constellation of more than 600 low earth orbit satellites serving broadcasters, phone companies and radio stations.
“We really want to integrate with the telco ecosystem,” Berneke said. “Satellites are an interesting niche in the overall communications ecosystem where telcos are the big boys in the class and satellite will always be a small part.”
Eutelsat counts telecom operators such as France’s Orange and Australia’s Telstra as customers and is in talks with others such as AT&T in the US
The company, which has a backlog of $4 billion, is waiting for countries like India and Saudi Arabia to open up.
India – a market set to grow 36% annually to reach $1.9 billion by 2030 – is in the process of enabling satellite services. It has faced tensions between domestic players and companies such as Starlink.
Two Asian giants have a Friday to remember, but for different reasons. 00:0201:26
“We have some of the backlog that’s sitting in the Indian market… It’s sitting there until India opens, the day it opens, we’ll start building,” Berneke said.
The company is also in talks with airlines to provide in-flight connectivity, including internet browsing, and expects revenue to start growing from next year, he said.
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