The European Commission has called on the EU to fund Ukraine’s access to satellite internet amid ongoing conflicts and the need for resilient communication infrastructures. A satellite internet system has been deployed near the frontline town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine. The Commission has urged the EU to share its space assets with Kyiv and is currently engaged in discussions with satellite operators to provide suitable internet services in Ukraine.
European satellite providers are looking to bolster their capabilities over Ukraine, providing alternatives to the current services. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure continuous and stable internet access for Ukraine as it faces infrastructural challenges due to the conflict. The move comes as Europe tries to modernize its telecommunications and internet infrastructure to reduce reliance on external providers like SpaceX’s Starlink.
The EU has announced an ambitious plan to overhaul its digital backbone, aiming for enhanced sovereignty and security in the region’s data networks. A key element of the plan includes significant investments in fiber-optic networks across member states and developing Europe’s own satellite constellations to provide global coverage.
Funding Ukraine’s satellite internet access
European satellite operator Eutelsat is under the spotlight due to concerns that Starlink might withdraw its crucial service from Ukraine. Eutelsat’s CEO Eva Berneke stated that the company’s services could serve as the only alternative to Starlink, despite having “less capacity” for now, it maintains “perfect coverage” over Ukraine. Berneke expects Eutelsat’s capabilities and expertise will ensure a significant role in discussions about European communications sovereignty.
Such discussions are crucial not only for Ukraine but for other European nations as well. Eutelsat is part of a consortium designated by the EU to deploy the new Iris² constellation of communications satellites, aimed at reinforcing the EU’s communications infrastructure. The Iris² constellation is expected to begin service by 2030.
In the interim, Eutelsat has scheduled 100 Airbus-built satellites for launch, followed by a second generation of 340 satellites to sustain OneWeb’s operation. The implementation of this plan will take years and require cooperation among various stakeholders, including national governments, private enterprises, and international partners.
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