Elon Musk’s Starlink, the leading low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet provider, is about to face rivals from Europe and China. China has launched over 100 satellites since last August. It plans to deploy around 28,000 satellites to compete with Starlink.
On Thursday, Europe took a major step. Airbus, Thales (France), and Leonardo (Italy) agreed to merge their satellite manufacturing and services units. The new venture will challenge Starlink. The announcement comes as Starlink launched its 10,000th satellite, showing rapid growth over the years.
Starlink’s Growth and Reach
In 2021, the US Federal Communications Commission approved Musk’s plan to deploy at least 12,000 satellites by 2026. Starlink has become vital in Europe, especially in Ukraine. Around 50,000 terminals keep railways, schools, and hospitals online during power outages caused by war.
Europe’s Ambitious “Project Bromo”
Europe’s project marks one of the biggest aerospace collaborations since 2001. Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo will create a Toulouse-based company. It will begin operations in 2027.
The project is called “Project Bromo.” Talks started last year. These European companies focused on geostationary satellites but struggled against Starlink’s small, low-cost LEO satellites. By joining forces, they aim to compete globally.
In a joint statement, the CEOs said, “This proposed new company marks a pivotal milestone for Europe’s space industry. It embodies our shared vision to build a stronger and more competitive European presence in an increasingly dynamic global space market.”
The venture will employ 25,000 people. It still needs regulatory approval. Other European firms, like Eutelsat, are also joining the race. Eutelsat recently received €1.35 billion from the French government. The European Space Agency is working with Thales on HydRON, a megaconstellation. These satellites will use lasers to deliver internet speeds up to a terabit per second.
China’s Satellite Internet Push
China has two major projects: Guowang (Xingwang/SatNet) and Qianfan (Spacesail/SSST). Guowang focuses on domestic telecom and national security. Qianfan targets international markets. By May, Qianfan had deals with Brazil, Malaysia, and Thailand. It plans to expand across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Both projects face challenges. They report more faulty satellites than SpaceX. They face bureaucratic delays and limited rocket launches. They also risk ITU limits if they do not launch enough satellites quickly.
Road Ahead
Europe and China are moving fast to compete with Starlink. Musk’s network still leads. But new projects could reshape the global LEO satellite internet market in the coming years.