French satellite telecoms company Eutelsat on Sunday successfully launched 20 satellites using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California. This is the first major launch since its merger with OneWeb last year.
SpaceX launched the latest batch of Eutelsat OneWeb V1 satellites from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday at 1:13 a.m. EDT.
Eutelsat is one of the largest satellite operators in the world, providing coverage across the European continent, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. By expanding its satellite constellation to more than 600 units in low Earth orbit, Eutelsat is strategically positioning itself in the telecoms and broadcasting markets.
CEO Eva Berneke told Reuters in an interview:
This is the first OneWeb launch of the satellites since the merger. We will be launching more satellites over the coming years. We really want to integrate into the telco ecosystem. Satellites are an interesting niche in the overall connectivity ecosystems where telcos are the big boys in the class and satellite will always be a smaller part.
The expansion is a significant step for the Paris-based operator towards deeper integration into the telecoms ecosystem. The launch expands its portfolio to serve major customers such as Orange and Telstra. Ongoing talks with AT&T also signal the potential for significant partnerships in the US.
Eutelsat is gearing up for notable growth, anticipating market expansion in regions such as India and Saudi Arabia. These countries represent growing opportunities and satellite internet stands poised to play a crucial role in future initiatives. The Asian country’s market, for example, expected to grow at 36 per cent a year to reach $1.9 billion by 2030, is in the process of authorising satellite services.
“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,” Berneke said.
Other than, the company is also in talks with airlines to offer in-flight connectivity, including internet browsing, and expects revenue to start growing from next year, Berneke said. The tendency towards a multi-faceted approach may also translate positively for the company as partnerships with established telecom giants suggest fertile ground for investment. Investors may find opportunities as the company enters new markets, promising improved connectivity and integration across industries.
The European Telecommunications Satellite Organisation was originally established 47 years ago, in 1977, by 17 European countries as an intergovernmental organisation (IGO). Its role was to develop and operate a satellite telecommunications infrastructure for Europe. Nowadays, its satellites are used to broadcast nearly 7,000 television stations, of which 1,400 in high-definition, and 1,100 radio stations to more than 274 million cable and satellite homes.
