Shares of Starlink's European rival Eutelsat have tripled
Shares in Eutelsat, the European operator that acquired low-Earth-orbit network OneWeb, have surged as investors bet it can offer Ukraine an alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink for satellite internet. Commenters debate the company’s actual technical capabilities versus Starlink’s far larger constellation, noting that near-term competition would focus on supplying ground terminals and backup bandwidth rather than matching capacity. The conversation broadens into concerns over Europe’s dependence on a US-controlled system amid shifting US politics, and the strategic value of funding Ukraine’s defense versus the costs and risks of relying on American firms and policy.
What “40,000” Refers To
- Initial confusion in the thread about whether “40,000” means satellites or user terminals.
- Multiple commenters clarify: it’s about matching ~40,000 ground terminals in Ukraine, not satellites in orbit.
- Some note the article/byline uses sloppy wording (“satellites into Ukraine”), which helped trigger misunderstanding and accusations of lying.
Capabilities: Starlink vs Eutelsat/OneWeb
- OneWeb (Eutelsat subsidiary) has ~500+ LEO satellites vs Starlink’s ~7,000; commenters agree it doesn’t need to match that to cover Ukraine.
- Eutelsat already offers global coverage, but several argue it lacks Starlink‑level bandwidth and can only provide a degraded backup.
- Some call the headline misleading: Eutelsat is framed as a “rival,” but is seen as “not in the same league” technically.
Reliability, Politics, and Strategic Autonomy
- Strong concern in Europe about dependence on a US system controlled by a single powerful individual and an unstable US political environment.
- Fear that Starlink/US support could be cut or used as leverage over Ukraine, with Reuters and other reports cited vs. denials by Musk, SpaceX, and Ukrainian officials.
- Many see European alternatives as a hedge against US unreliability, even at higher cost.
Who Should Pay for Ukraine’s Defense?
- Bitter debate over whether Ukraine should “pay” for aid via mineral rights vs. aid as moral/strategic duty.
- One side: taxpayers don’t “owe” free help; resource-sharing is fair compensation.
- Other side: Ukraine is already paying in blood and is effectively dismantling Europe’s main military threat; demanding economic tribute is seen as exploitation or blackmail.
- Broader clash between transactional realism (“my tax money first”) and a rules‑based, collective‑security worldview.
Terminal Compatibility and Technical Issues
- Reusing Starlink hardware on Eutelsat is deemed highly unlikely: proprietary chips, frequencies, no documentation.
- Even if physically compatible, it would be akin to developing a new product for hardware you can’t replace; far easier to ship new terminals.
Launch Capacity, Cost, and Markets
- Europe has launched commercial satellites for decades, but is slower and more expensive; recent gaps in heavy‑lift capacity (Ariane 5→6) noted.
- Some stress that for national security, cost‑effectiveness matters less; others counter that “money doesn’t fall from the sky,” even if printed by central banks.
- Eutelsat’s stock surge is linked by commenters to expectations of “buy European” policies and US political/tariff uncertainty, not pure technical competitiveness with Starlink.