Eutelsat, one of leading satellite operators, has launched 20 satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) on Sunday.
The launch was carried out by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which took off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 0513 GMT. This marks the first satellite launch since the merger of Eutelsat and British satellite company OneWeb in September 2023.
The satellites will enhance the Eutelsat-OneWeb constellation, which already boasts over 600 satellites, providing communications services to broadcasters, telecom companies, and radio stations.
“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,” Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke told Reuters.
Eutelsat’s client list includes major telecom operators like France’s Orange and Australia’s Telstra, with ongoing talks to expand partnerships to U.S. giants such as AT&T. The company is particularly interested in growing its presence in emerging markets like India, where satellite services are expected to grow by 36 percent annually, reaching $1.9 billion by 2030.
In addition to expanding ground-based services, Eutelsat is negotiating with aviation companies to offer in-flight internet connectivity. The company expects revenue growth to accelerate from 2024 as demand for global connectivity increases.
This launch highlights Eutelsat’s commitment to advancing its multi-orbit satellite strategy, combining the advantages of both geostationary (GEO) and low Earth orbit satellites for enhanced performance.
The newly deployed satellites, manufactured by Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, will boost Eutelsat’s network capacity and service quality.
Eutelsat Communications is targeting revenue of €1.2 billion during fiscal 2024-25 in line with the sales of €1.213 billion achieved during fiscal 2024-25. Eutelsat is aiming for capital expenditure (Capex) of €700-800 million in fiscal 2024-25.
