Eutelsat Launches First 20 Post-Merger Satellites Using SpaceX Rockets

JAKARTA Eutelsat, the world's third-largest satellite operator by revenue, launched 20 satellites for their communications network on Sunday, October 20 using Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket. This launch marks the company's first major move since the merger between two European companies last year.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 05:13 GMT carrying Eutelsat satellites. "This is the first OneWeb satellite launch since the merger," said Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke, in an interview. "We will launch more satellites in the next few years."

The Paris-based group was formed through a merger in September last year between French Eutelsat and British OneWeb. They now have a constellation of more than 600 low-orbit satellites serving broadcasting, telecommunications companies, and radio stations.

"We really want to be integrated into the telecommunications ecosystem," Berneke added. "Satellite is an interesting small part of the overall connectivity ecosystem, where telecommunications operators are big players, and satellites will always be a smaller part."

Eutelsat has several large telecommunication operators as clients, including Orange from France and Telstra from Australia, and is in talks with other companies such as AT&T in the United States. With orders piling up to $4 billion, Eutelsat is waiting for major markets like India and Saudi Arabia to open up to satellite services.

India, which is expected to grow 36% per year to reach 1.9 billion US dollars (Rp29.5 trillion) by 2030, is in the process of opening satellite services, despite friction between local players and companies like Starlink.

"We have some of our orders waiting in the Indian market... When India opens, we will start building," Berneke said.

Eutelsat is also in discussions with airlines to provide connectivity on board, including internet access, and hopes revenues will begin to increase starting next year.