I’ve been trying to compare the performance of Starlink vs. Eutelsat regarding internet usage.
Starlink’s download peaks are around 200 Mbps and latency is 26. This is at least according to Starlink itself; there are sites that report latency being in the 50-70 range in practice. Starlink sells the connection and a relatively small satellite terminal directly to consumers. Setup is easy.
With Eutelsat, download peaks with LEO satellites would be around 150 Mbps and latency 70. Eutelsat’s satellite terminals are significantly larger than Starlink’s, and deployment is more expensive. This is partly because Eutelsat’s satellites are further away, thus requiring more power from the “terminal.” Eutelsat operates more in the market for operators/governments/military/companies. New satellites will improve the network from 2027 onwards, but I haven’t found more detailed estimates yet. GEO satellites (which are significantly further away) have a latency of 500-600ms and speeds in the sub-100 Mbps range.
Starlink has over 9,000 satellites and Eutelsat has 600 LEO (and 34 GEO) satellites. Therefore, Starlink’s connection is harder to intentionally take out of play in a military sense, as it’s more difficult to determine which satellite will connect next.
Eutelsat’s satellites are further from the Earth (LEO 1,200 km, GEO 36,000 km), while Starlink’s satellites orbit at an altitude of 550 km. Partly because of this, it’s easier for Starlink to offer faster connections.
Since Eutelsat’s satellites are further away, they move slower and a single satellite has wider coverage. This helps with internet stability and, in principle, fewer satellites are needed. In Arctic regions and the polar zones, Eutelsat’s network is supposed to work better. So, one cannot directly conclude that Starlink’s satellite network is “good” because of the 9,000 figure while Eutelsat would be left at 600 by the same metric.
Eutelsat has more extensive customer service (European style), and more emphasis has been placed on network reliability than speed. In the mining business or at sea, for example, this can be a more decisive factor than speed. In the consumer market, however, speed, latency, and setup are more important, so Eutelsat simply won’t be able to compete in that category in the coming years.
AI summary, which the various sources I’ve found seem to support:
https://www.remotesatellite.com/starlink-vs-oneweb-which-enterprise-solution-fits-your-needs/#:~:text=Performance%20and%20Bandwidth%20Options&text=Latency%3A%20Starlink’s%20field-tested%20latency,Starlink%20may%20have%20an%20edge.
Article above: Reliability in Critical Situations
When every second counts, reliability is paramount.
Starlink has earned global praise for its high download and upload speeds, particularly in areas where traditional internet options don’t exist. It’s proven to be a game-changer for rural communities, small businesses, and individuals who previously struggled to get online.
However, because Starlink’s network is still evolving, users have reported occasional service interruptions. While these may not be a problem for everyday use, they could be a concern in disaster response or other mission-critical applications.
OneWeb, in contrast, has built its network with a strong emphasis on performance and QOS – Quality of Service. Its infrastructure is designed to avoid congestion and minimize packet loss, providing steady performance even in geographically challenging regions. This reliability has positioned OneWeb as a dependable choice for industries that simply cannot afford downtime—such as energy, mining, and emergency services.
Focusing on Eutelsat, Eutelsat’s management has now completely changed during 2025:
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Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Jean-François Fallacher was appointed CEO, effective June 1, 2025. He succeeded Eva Berneke, who led the company through the OneWeb integration since 2022. Fallacher is a seasoned telecom veteran who previously served as CEO of Orange France and led Orange operations in Spain, Romania, and Poland.
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Chairman of the Board: Eric Labaye was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective August 4, 2025. He succeeded Dominique D’Hinnin, who stepped down.
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Chief Financial Officer (CFO): Sébastien Rouge was appointed as the new CFO and member of the Group Executive Committee, effective November 5, 2025 (with duties fully taking over by Feb 1, 2026), succeeding Christophe Caudrelier.
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Video Business Unit President: Aymeric Genty was appointed President of the Video Business Unit in March 202
Even though Eutelsat is a 40-year-old company on paper, the new management, new anchor owners, the OneWeb merger from a few years ago, and the latest strategic shift toward LEO satellites mean that Eutelsat should be treated like a turnaround/growth company.
And even though Eutelsat currently has a better financial situation, further share issues will likely be necessary to secure billions in funding. Much depends on Europe’s willingness to fund its own satellite projects. Partly for that reason, the ownership base has already been “Europeanized” in advance, and a decent amount of funding was sought as a foundation.
