CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Our Group’s corporate and social responsibility activities are focused on three areas that reflect our key businesses and know-how:

• bridging the digital divide,
• protecting the space environment, and
• fostering a human resources policy that encourages diversity at all levels.

This strategy is based on long-term actions and initiatives. It is continuously reviewed and improved through ongoing discussions with all stakeholders, including employees, partners, suppliers, customers, and shareholders.

Eutelsat has established a committee to define indicators to benchmark our sustainability strategy. The Sustainability Report is included in the Eutelsat Reference Document 2017-2018.

Eutelsat is concerned with three major areas to help bridge the digital divide: delivering internet services to consumers, professionals and governmental agencies in areas with limited or no access to terrestrial networks; serving specific requirements by addressing the challenges of public policies with regard to digital inclusion; and promoting access to free-to-air television for all.

The reach and performance of our satellites places them in a unique position for internet access, which is key for tackling global challenges related to health and education as well as civic and economic empowerment. Even in the long term, satellites are expected to enable at least two percent of the world population to go digital. In Europe, for example, it is estimated that in 2030 around five million households will still be unable to access a quality fixed internet connection through terrestrial networks.

In the field of humanitarian emergency relief, Eutelsat is a founding signatory of the United Nations Crisis Connectivity Charter and has supported NGOs Télécoms Sans Frontières and Nethope for several years, helping them set up high-speed connectivity in crisis situations. We also actively support the teaching of science at school and have forged close ties with students in the telecom and space segments, with educational partnerships to promote students’ interest in science and technology.

Protecting the unique environment of space is a key priority for Eutelsat. Living up to our fleet management policy, we strive to set the standard on critical issues such as space operations safety and satellite end-of-life procedures.

We work in close partnership with satellite manufacturers and launch service providers to mitigate satellite’s environmental impacts, and conduct a proactive policy to reduce space debris.

Through our relationships with the signatories of the “Collective for Space Care” Charter and members of the Space Data Association (SDA), we actively contribute to our industry’s collective effort to identify, challenge and apply best practice. 

Bringing together satellite fleet operators, the SDA assesses the risks of potential close approaches on the geostationary orbit and the low earth orbit, sharing information with a view to mitigating RF interference.

In the face of increasing global competition, the competence, commitment and passion of the men and women at Eutelsat are second to none in our industry.

Promoting a diversity of cultures and encouraging employee development and loyalty is at the heart of our human resource policy, in particular through globally federating initiatives aimed at strengthening corporate culture, programmes to promote high potential employees, and internal mobility opportunities including international mobility.

The multicultural composition of our workforce is deeply rooted in our DNA. Our unique human resource of 1000 commercial, technical and operational employees from over 40 countries, is a distinctive asset that we are committed to perpetuating.