Eutelsat, the European satellite operator competing with Elon Musk's Starlink, announced on Wednesday that it had begun providing onboard wifi for passenger and business planes.
The company confirmed that it was now delivering broadband connectivity to Air Canada aircraft, along with some corporate jet operators.
In its statement, Eutelsat highlighted a significant backlog, stating that over 1,000 aircraft were scheduled for installation of the new system. This move marks a crucial step for Eutelsat as it seeks to present itself as a viable alternative to Starlink, especially as concerns rise about Musk’s political affiliations, notably his role as an advisor to US President Donald Trump.
The growing attention surrounding Eutelsat’s offering has been fuelled by fears that Musk might withdraw Starlink service from Ukraine, where the satellite system is vital to the military efforts against Russia’s invasion. Despite this, Eutelsat itself relies on Musk’s SpaceX company to launch many of its low-orbiting satellites, with Starlink being one of SpaceX’s most valuable assets.
European airlines, such as Air France, have already opted for Starlink’s connectivity service for their aircraft. However, Eutelsat is determined to challenge Starlink’s dominance in the European market, with its offering now in direct competition. Starlink currently operates more than 7,000 satellites in orbit, while Eutelsat has fewer than 700 low-orbiting satellites.
