FCC chair calls EU satellite strategy ‘anti-American’

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has urged EU nations to reevaluate their satellite strategy amid concerns about relying on Starlink for services.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Carr emphasised the importance of unity and cautioned allies to “focus on the real long-term bogey: the rise of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Carr’s remarks arrive during a period of mounting scepticism in Europe about Starlink’s reliability as a partner. This unease comes in part after Washington’s recent threat to suspend the satellite internet service in Ukraine, sparking fears of over-dependence on a private entity.  

Radek Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister, highlighted these concerns in early March. In a post on X, Sikorski wrote: “If SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider, we will be forced to look for other suppliers.”

Sikorski’s remarks followed Musk’s controversial assertion that Ukraine’s defence efforts would collapse without Starlink support.  

Poland currently funds approximately half the cost of 50,000 Starlink terminals, which have become vital for Ukrainian military and civil authorities during the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Musk’s response to Sikorski’s comments, however, startled many in Europe: “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”

EU looks to homegrown alternatives for its long-term satellite strategy  

Recognising the risks of over-reliance amid geopolitical splits, EU nations have turned their attention to homegrown alternatives for satellites and other critical infrastructure.

Among the homegrown alternatives is OneWeb, a British satellite company acquired in part by France-based operator Eutelsat. In 2021, Eutelsat purchased a 24 percent stake in OneWeb, which shares Starlink’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology. Yet, OneWeb faces significant hurdles in challenging Starlink’s dominance.

While SpaceX’s Starlink boasts more than 4,400 operational satellites, Eutelsat OneWeb has launched only around 660 to date. Moreover, affordability and usability remain significant barriers for OneWeb. Current OneWeb terminals cost upwards of $3,200 and are bulky in design, whereas Starlink and its sleek terminals are priced under $400.  

Concerns about cybersecurity have also plagued Eutelsat. When Russia first invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Russian hackers successfully deployed malware that disabled numerous Eutelsat-operated terminals, raising doubts about the network’s resilience under geopolitical pressure.  

Political frictions and shifting alliances  

Brendan Carr criticised what he described as political bias from the EU in long-term decision-making around satellite technologies. Carr warned Europe to reconsider its Starlink concerns, stating, “just wait for the CCP’s version, then you’ll be really worried.”  

Carr has been vocal in his support of Elon Musk’s ventures and criticised the Biden administration’s decision to deny Starlink access to US government subsidies intended for rural broadband projects.  

Carr contends that Europe now finds itself at a crossroads and the continent is “caught” between the US and China.

A deepening technological divide between nations aligned with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and those in the West is becoming a reality, Carr warned, particularly in critical industries such as AI and satellite communications.  

Carr’s concerns extend to what he perceives as discriminatory practices by European regulators. He accused the European Commission of harbouring an “anti-American” bias and warned allies to determine whether depending on US technology outweighs the risks of depending on Chinese solutions.

Starlink has established itself as the gold standard in satellite internet, offering unparalleled speeds and reliability. This has made it a tempting proposition for governments and enterprises worldwide.  

But as the EU eyes a future where self-sustaining infrastructure could replace its reliance on American and Chinese technologies, sceptics argue the operational and financial challenges of building a robust European satellite alternative remain steep. 

(Photo by Lucas Gallone)

See also: Huawei courts Europe amid geopolitical shifts

Want to learn more about cybersecurity and the cloud from industry leaders? Check out Cyber Security & Cloud Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Digital Transformation Week, IoT Tech Expo, Blockchain Expo, and AI & Big Data Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: broadband, china, connectivity, eu, europe, fcc, government, oneweb, politics, rural, satellites, space, starlink, telecoms, usa