Eutelsat, Europe's primary competitor to Elon Musk's satellite internet service Starlink, is negotiating with India's space agency regarding upcoming satellite launches as it aims to expand its options beyond SpaceX and Europe's Ariane rockets.
Jean-Francois Fallacher, who has been the CEO of France's Eutelsat since last June, informed Reuters that discussions with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) are still in progress, but no agreement has been finalized.
France and India have strengthened their relationship in defense, space, and maritime security, with New Delhi recently finalizing agreements for French fighter jets.
In the previous year, French President Emmanuel Macron called for collaboration between the two nations in space, cautioning that depending on non-European suppliers was "insanity."
In 2023, Eutelsat combined forces with OneWeb, a London-based satellite internet startup that had been saved by Britain and Bharti from India.
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The unified team lost access to Russia's Soyuz rocket following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and has since depended on Musk's SpaceX and Ariane rockets. It has also entered into an agreement with MaiaSpace, a French startup creating Europe's initial reusable mini-launcher.
Fallacher stated he went to New Delhi in February as a member of Macron's delegation, meeting with India's telecom minister and regulators to talk about market entry.
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"We are getting ready for the future, as launch capacity must be arranged long beforehand," he stated. "India is a vast nation ... thus securing market access is crucial."
ISRO sent 72 OneWeb satellites into orbit using its LVM3 rocket prior to the merger. OneWeb satellites, approximately the dimensions of a refrigerator, deliver high-speed internet services to companies and governments.
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India is realigning its space program to transfer regular manufacturing and commercial operations to the private sector, allowing ISRO to concentrate on advanced research and exploration. According to reports, New Delhi aims for a domestic space economy valued at approximately $44 billion by 2033.