Starlink Rival Eutelsat Signs Deal with MaiaSpace to Launch Satellites

European satellite operator Eutelsat said it has signed a deal with French space startup MaiaSpace for the future launches of its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, in a major strategic boost for Europe as it seeks to catch up with U.S. rival SpaceX. Gianluca Lo Nostro reported for Reuters.

MaiaSpace will add a complementary launch option alongside existing partners. (Photo: Ariane Group)

The agreement with MaiaSpace, a subsidiary of Europe’s largest rocket maker ArianeGroup, is a multi-launch deal set to start in 2027.

MaiaSpace will add a complementary launch option alongside existing partners, said Arlen Kassighian, chief engineering officer at Eutelsat. The company owns OneWeb, which is currently the world’s only other operational LEO constellation besides Elon Musk’s Starlink.

OneWeb is considered a strategic asset by the French and British governments, two of Eutelsat’s largest shareholders, because its satellites provide secure internet access to governments, militaries, businesses, and consumers in underserved areas.

French President Emmanuel Macron last year called on Europe to step up its space strategy to counter Starlink and said on Thursday that France would accelerate the use of LEO satellite constellations.