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The European Commission is currently investigating the \$3.1 billion acquisition of Intelsat by SES, a deal that could reshape the satellite communications landscape across Europe. With SpaceXās Starlink rapidly becoming a dominant player in the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite sector, regulators are concerned about the implications this deal might have on market competition and Europeās autonomy in space infrastructure.
SES, already operating around 70 multi-orbit satellites, seeks to scale up by acquiring Intelsat to better compete in a field increasingly shaped by U.S.-based giants like Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The European Unionās antitrust body is assessing whether this merger would create an uneven playing field and if Starlink’s growing dominance gives it an unfair edge.
At the heart of the probe lies a series of detailed questionnaires sent to customers of SES and Intelsat. These seek to understand whether Starlink and OneWeb (Eutelsat) are genuine competitors, whether theyāre gaining ground in tenders, and whether clients have sufficient alternatives to maintain competitive leverage. The Commission is expected to conclude its initial review by June 10.
While SES positions the acquisition as a move to strengthen Europeās space capabilities, it also acknowledges the need for collaboration with Starlink rather than direct competition. SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh has clarified that European governments are actively seeking to augmentānot replaceāStarlinkās services, especially for strategic and defense-related purposes.
This situation comes at a time when geopolitical shifts and increasing defense budgets are pushing European nations to ensure digital sovereignty and infrastructure resilience. If the merger is approved, it may trigger new partnerships and regulatory frameworks across Europeās communications and aerospace sectors.
The Commissionās decision will determine whether the deal goes forward smoothly, faces conditions, or escalates into a full-scale investigation. The outcome may shape the future of satellite competition in Europe for years to come.
What Undercode Say:
The European Commissionās scrutiny of the SES-Intelsat merger is more than a routine antitrust probeāitās a pivotal moment for the future of Europe’s satellite autonomy.
From a strategic viewpoint, SES’s move to acquire Intelsat is designed to consolidate European capacity and create a viable counterbalance to dominant players like Starlink. But the timing of the EU’s review aligns with mounting political and economic pressure for Europe to build resilience in its digital and defense infrastructure.
Starlink, with its cutting-edge LEO satellite network, has disrupted traditional geostationary satellite communications by offering faster deployment, lower latency, and broader accessibility. While that has huge benefits for consumers and enterprise users, it also raises alarms for regulators who worry about over-reliance on a single, non-European providerāespecially one so deeply intertwined with U.S. defense and tech agendas.
From a market dynamics perspective, SESās collaboration strategyārather than a confrontational stanceāacknowledges the reality of Starlinkās technical superiority. SES isn’t trying to dethrone Starlink, but rather position itself as a strategic partner that can fill in gaps or provide regional alternatives when necessary. This approach appeals to European governments, which prefer not to put all their digital eggs in one (American) basket.
The Commissionās inquiries into customer switching behavior, tender performance, and bargaining power are crucial. If findings reveal that LEO providers are already reshaping contract allocations and pricing dynamics, regulators might take action to ensure fair access to state-funded projects and private-sector tenders.
Also at stake is how Europe defines fair competition in the rapidly evolving space tech industry. Should dominance in orbital layers be regulated differently than terrestrial markets? And is it time to define Starlink not just as a private company, but as an infrastructure enabler with geopolitical implications?
SESās statements about complementing Starlink reflect a realpolitik stanceāEurope is not ready to build its own LEO network at the same scale yet, but it must secure some degree of influence over how these networks operate in its territory. Hence, the SES-Intelsat merger could become a foundational step in building the EU’s own strategic space infrastructure.
We also see a broader implication: this probe sets a precedent. Future mergers, partnerships, or deployments involving satellite networks will likely face similar scrutiny. Thatās a signal to companies operating in space that regulatory expectations are rising alongside technological capabilities.
The final ruling will send a strong signal: whether Europe is serious about shaping the orbital economy or content to remain a customer of it.
Fact Checker Results
- The SES-Intelsat deal is currently under EU antitrust review, confirmed by EU Commission timelines.
- Starlink and OneWeb are recognized as key LEO competitors, with government-level interest across Europe.
- SES CEOās public statements match the reported intent to cooperate with Starlink rather than compete head-on.
Prediction
Assuming the EU
Starlinkās dominance wonāt be curbed by regulation alone, but this merger could ignite a wave of European investment into space tech innovation, with SES at the center of a more coordinated public-private satellite strategy for Europe. This wonāt dethrone Starlinkābut it will ensure Europe has a seat at the orbital table.
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