Europe's path to tech sovereignty
WHY LEO CONSTELLATIONS HAVE BECOME STRATEGIC ASSETS
A European Champion Competing in a World of Giants
Eutelsat stands at the centre of Europe’s space ecosystem, with a 47year legacy and a fleet of 33 geostationary satellites. The company’s strategic transformation accelerated with the acquisition of OneWeb — today one of only two operational low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations in the world.
Jean François highlighted that it remains the only LEO constellation not controlled by the US or China, giving Europe a uniquely sovereign asset. To reinforce this position, Eutelsat has secured €1.5 billion in new capital to expand the fleet by 440 satellites, bringing the constellation to roughly 650 units by 2030. “We are the sovereign European constellation. We have European shareholders. We are listed on the Paris and London stock exchanges.” He also pointed to the company’s central role in IRIS², the European Commission’s next generation secure connectivity programme. LEO activities now account for 20% of turnover and continue to grow at around 60% year over year.
Why LEO Is Essential for Europe’s Sovereignty
LEO constellations are a critical pillar for Europe’s digital autonomy. They deliver seamless global broadband and require massive, long-term investment, making them difficult to replicate. Jean François noted that OneWeb had already absorbed seven years of development and $7 billion before Eutelsat acquired it — a reminder of its scale and strategic relevance. “[LEO constellations] are extremely large and capital-intensive infrastructures… This is why we believe LEO is a strategic asset — a strategic service — for Europe.”
He also raised the emerging opportunity of Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity, an area poised to transform the communications landscape. While Europe has strong projects underway, he stressed that achieving D2D at scale will require significant investment and a clear, unified industrial ambition.
Serving Governments and Critical IndustrieS
Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO constellation focuses on high reliability B2B markets — governments, aviation, maritime, enterprise and defence. A landmark €1 billion, 10year agreement with the French Ministry of Defence underscores the constellation’s strategic importance. This partnership strengthens operational access and supports further hardening of the system for defence and national-security use cases.
Recent geopolitical events continue to highlight the risks of dependency on foreign controlled connectivity. Jean François emphasised that sovereignty becomes very real when an external operator can unilaterally restrict service over a conflict zone. Eutelsat’s European governance and operational control directly address this vulnerability.
We believe LEO is a strategic asset - a strategic service - for Europe.
Europe needs [...] more agility, faster development and a culture of iteration [to] master the key technologies we still have to import today.
CEO, EUTELSAT
Why Europe Needs to Act Together
Europe faces global competition from large American and Chinese constellations. Jean François warned that fragmented national initiatives would undermine Europe’s ability to match this scale. A coherent and unified approach — particularly around IRIS² — is essential to maintain a sovereign position in orbit. “The geopolitical situation has given us real momentum. People now realise that sovereignty is not theoretical. When one of our competitors [,,,] decides to cut services over a country, that marks the spirit. The dependency becomes immediately visible.”
Europe’s Cultural Inflection Point
Europe’s technological expertise remains strong, but development speed is a critical challenge. The “new space” economy depends on agility, fast iteration and shorter development cycles. Jean François noted that Europe must adopt these practices if it is to maintain leadership and regain control over key technologies still sourced externally. “This is why Eutelsat is advocating for unity — not only around Eutelsat, but for the European project to build the next-generation constellation, IRIS². For IRIS² to succeed, we need all European countries and public funding united behind one sovereign approach.”
Looking Ahead
The message from MWC Barcelona is clear: Europe has the talent, industrial capability and technological foundation to lead in space — but only if it acts with unity and urgency. A sovereign LEO constellation is not just a technological milestone; it is a cornerstone of Europe’s resilience, economic strength and strategic independence. "In new space, companies are already working in agile, fast cycles. This is what Europe needs — in mindset and practice: more agility, faster development, and a culture of iteration. That’s how we will master more of the key technologies we still have to import today."
