By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Eutelsat, a company with significant French and U.K. government ownership, is proposing a $250-million plan to provide the Canadian military with secure satellite broadband in the Arctic. The proposal stems from Canada’s interest in diversifying defense contracts away from the United States, and was initially raised by French President Emmanuel Macron. Eutelsat emphasizes “sovereign capacity,” offering Canada control over its satellite services, a key selling point given reports of service disruptions from Elon Musk’s Starlink. This contrasts with Starlink’s recent controversies and the potential influence of a single individual over crucial defense communications.
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French-U.K. Starlink rival pitches Canada on “sovereign” satellite service for Arctic military operations: A deep dive
The intersection of Canada, France, and the U.K. is becoming increasingly important, especially in the realm of satellite technology. Given the concerns surrounding Starlink’s activities, especially during the conflict in Ukraine, the idea of a “sovereign” satellite service is gaining traction. This means a service not tied to any single nation, ensuring data security and control. It’s a key consideration, especially for sensitive operations like those in the Arctic.
Canada is already actively involved in developing its own space-based capabilities. The Telesat Lightspeed program, for example, is well underway, and it’s designed to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access. This could be a viable option for Arctic military operations. There’s also Kepler Communications, a Canadian company launching its own constellation of data relay satellites. These developments raise the question: why would Canada need an alternative? The answer, at least in part, lies in the need to protect sovereignty and ensure that critical infrastructure isn’t dependent on foreign entities, particularly those based in the United States. This is especially important for national security. A diversified market with robust alternatives is essential to ensure that no single company holds a monopoly, which is why this new venture is exciting.
The U.K. is a key player in this. OneWeb, a U.K.-based company, is an established competitor to Starlink. In fact, OneWeb merged with Eutelsat, which is a French company. This is the entity now being pitched to Canada. The combined entity is a truly European solution, offering an alternative to U.S.-based companies.
The benefits of a European solution, particularly for Canada, are multifold. Starlink can’t be fully trusted, and a Europe-based competitor would be a good step forward. The European Union is seen as a more trustworthy partner than the United States. Furthermore, the U.S. might leverage its position, possibly through tariffs or trade restrictions, if Canada were to utilize only U.S. companies. Choosing an EU provider could help avoid such issues.
The geopolitical landscape further enhances the appeal of a French-U.K. partnership. With the French government being the largest shareholder and the U.K. government a major one, the alliance leverages the strengths of both nations. The UK and France have a long and shared history. The countries collaborate on ambitious engineering projects, like the Concorde and the Channel Tunnel. This project exemplifies this type of partnership.
However, the technology itself is crucial. The original Starlink had some limitations, particularly with its “bent-pipe” architecture, leading to coverage gaps. The current generation of the French-U.K. solution is aiming to be a viable alternative to Starlink.
The benefits of utilizing these services will be very valuable to the armed forces. It will allow them to communicate expeditiously through satellite communication while avoiding ITAR ramifications. The Kepler constellation, in particular, will provide space-based data relay by relaying data from other satellites.
The concept of merging Telesat and Eutelsat has been discussed, as it may be more efficient to merge resources. This, in essence, is what OneWeb has already done. The satellites are manufactured by Airbus, further solidifying the Franco-British connection.
The push for a “sovereign” solution also reflects a broader trend of countries seeking independence in critical technologies. The development of alternatives to existing services is imperative.
Those with direct experience in the Canadian Arctic strongly advocate for Starlink’s value. Before Starlink, reliable internet was a significant challenge, with traditional directional dishes struggling to maintain a connection. Starlink, in contrast, offers consistent, high-speed internet, even in remote locations.
However, it’s not without its critics. Some users have reported issues with reliability, customer service, and value. And as much as Starlink provides a solid service, it is far from perfect. It’s important to remember that satellite internet is often a compromise, especially compared to fiber-optic or 5G connections. However, in regions where those options are unavailable, Starlink or its competitors can be game-changers.
The Canadian government is a pioneer in satellite communications, and it has built a strong industry base. This is why a homegrown solution is attractive. The concern is with reliability, and how much faith can be put in a foreign provider to operate in the way that the country sees fit.
In the complex relationships between the UK and France, and between them and Canada, there will be shared engineering projects, which will make each country stronger as a group. Modern France and the UK have a lot of similarities. In many ways, each is culturally similar. Each shares many engineering companies, and they work very well together. Ultimately, the choice to embrace or reject this offer will be based on the balance of benefits and risks.
The main takeaway is that Starlink is a godsend, but there are always going to be issues. In the end, it’s the only option available for certain people and locations. But, as a paying customer, it may be a good solution, but not a great one.