Germany Funds Eutelsat in Ukraine as a Backup to Musk’s Starlink

Berlin has been quietly funding Ukraine’s access to high-speed satellite internet provided by France’s Eutelsat, signaling growing European concern over heavy reliance on Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke told Reuters the company has been offering its services to Ukraine for about a year via a German distributor. While fewer than 1,000 Eutelsat terminals are currently deployed in the country—far fewer than the 50,000 Starlink units—Berneke said that figure could rise sharply, with up to 10,000 additional terminals potentially arriving ‘within weeks.’

The move comes amid fresh worries over Musk’s unpredictable influence on Starlink operations in Ukraine. On March 9, Musk warned that Ukraine’s front line would “collapse” without Starlink—fueling European efforts to diversify Kyiv’s satellite internet sources.

Starlink remains vital for Ukrainian military communications and for keeping civilians in front-line areas connected to the internet and news. However, European officials are increasingly wary of relying on a single, privately controlled network in a war zone.

Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation operates more than 600 satellites in higher Earth orbit, while Starlink deploys around 7,000 satellites at a lower altitude. Though Starlink’s network requires more satellites due to their shorter range and lifespan, the lower orbit offers faster, more stable connections—making it better suited for real-time communications.

Despite this, Eutelsat’s terminals are seen as less mobile and more expensive, reinforcing Starlink’s lead in the field. Still, experts say having alternatives is essential for Ukraine’s digital resilience.

As The Gaze previously reported, Poland has sent another 5,000 starlink terminals to Ukraine.