(Kyiv) – Germany has stepped forward to fund Ukraine’s access to the Eutelsat satellite internet system, marking a strategic shift in the country’s efforts to maintain communication infrastructure during its ongoing war. Eutelsat, a French satellite provider, has become a state-supported alternative to the widely used Starlink network operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
According to Eva Berneke, CEO of Eutelsat, the company has been supplying Ukraine with high-speed internet for nearly a year through a German distributor. Although she did not disclose the exact financial terms, Berneke confirmed that the initiative is financed by the German government.
Currently, fewer than 1,000 Eutelsat terminals are active across Ukraine—a small fraction compared to the roughly 50,000 Starlink terminals presently in use. Despite this, Berneke expressed optimism that Eutelsat’s footprint will grow significantly in the coming weeks.
“Now we want to deliver 5,000 to 10,000 terminals as soon as possible—possibly within a few weeks,” Berneke said.
While Eutelsat appears prepared to scale its presence rapidly, it remains unclear whether Germany will also underwrite the cost of the additional terminals. Joanna Darlington, a spokeswoman for Eutelsat, stated that funding for the next wave of equipment is still under discussion.
Berlin has not publicly confirmed its financial commitment to the expanded deployment. The German Foreign Ministry did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Reuters regarding the program.
Though Starlink has played a central role in maintaining Ukrainian communications throughout the conflict, Eutelsat’s involvement introduces a secondary line of technological support from a key European ally.
Eutelsat’s entry also reflects a broader interest in reducing Ukraine’s reliance on a single internet provider—particularly one operated by a private U.S. company. Elon Musk has previously expressed political concerns about his platform’s usage in military operations but has reassured the public that he will not disable Starlink access for Ukraine.
“Without Starlink, Ukrainian networks would be destroyed due to Russian jamming of communications,” Musk said.
Despite his reassurances, Ukraine and its partners continue to diversify digital infrastructure to ensure stability and security amid the war.
Satellite Terminal Presence in Ukraine (Estimated):
| Provider | Number of Terminals | Funding Source |
|---|---|---|
| Starlink | ~50,000 | Multiple (incl. U.S., private donors) |
| Eutelsat | <1,000 (expanding) | German government |
Projected Eutelsat Expansion:
| Phase | Estimated Terminals | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current | <1,000 | Active | Operational |
| Upcoming Deployment | 5,000–10,000 | Next few weeks | In planning |