PARIS/KYIV - The CEO of French-British satellite operator Eutelsat has confirmed there is currently no viable alternative to Elon Musk's Starlink network for Ukraine's satellite communications needs, highlighting ongoing concerns about the country's technological dependence.

Eva Berneke, Eutelsat's CEO, acknowledged in an April 7 interview with Politico that her company lacks the capacity to fully replace Starlink's operations in Ukraine [1]. 'If we were to take over the entire connectivity capacity for Ukraine and all the citizens, we wouldn't be able to do that,' Berneke stated.

The scale difference between the providers is substantial. While Starlink operates approximately 7,000 satellites and maintains around 50,000 terminals in Ukraine, Eutelsat currently operates about 600 satellites total [1][2]. Through its OneWeb network, Eutelsat currently supports Ukrainian government operations with fewer than 1,000 active terminals, though it aims to expand to 5,000-10,000 units [2].

The European Union has been actively seeking backup options for Ukraine's satellite communications. Discussions are ongoing at the EU level with member states and industry partners, as confirmed by European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier [1]. The EU's own IRIS² satellite network is under development but won't be operational until the early 2030s [1].

Geopolitical concerns have intensified scrutiny of Ukraine's reliance on Starlink. Berneke noted that working with Starlink creates a 'dependence that can be decided in the White House or Mar-a-Lago' [1][2]. These concerns emerged following reports of potential service interruptions being used as leverage in diplomatic negotiations, though Musk has publicly denied such claims [2].

Starlink has been crucial to Ukraine's defense infrastructure since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, supporting military operations, aid organizations, and approximately 150,000 civilians [1]. The system's importance was demonstrated when it restored connectivity in the early days of the war following Russian cyberattacks and infrastructure damage.