French container shipping group CMA CGM announced it will test Eutelsat’s OneWeb satellite broadband network alongside Elon Musk’s Starlink across its fleet of roughly 350 vessels. Under a two-year contract, the company will install antennas to switch between the two networks before potentially committing to one, signaling a major endorsement of the European contender in low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity, according to the Financial Times.
The move comes at a critical moment for Eutelsat, which is seeking to expand business for its LEO network in a market dominated by Starlink’s 9,000-plus satellites. Ramon Fernandez, CMA CGM’s finance chief, told the Financial Times that while the two services are complementary, the company may eventually select the operator that “best meets our needs.” LEO satellites offer high-speed connectivity and lower latency than traditional geostationary satellites, making them increasingly vital for global shipping operations.
CMA CGM’s decision represents a significant vote of confidence in OneWeb, which operates fewer than 10 percent of Starlink’s satellites and is currently modernizing its aging constellation. OneWeb recently ordered 340 new satellites from Airbus, scheduled for delivery starting at the end of this year, to expand its current fleet of more than 600. To finance these expansions, Eutelsat secured a €1 billion loan guaranteed by the French state, which now holds nearly a 30 percent stake in the company. The UK, which had previously rescued OneWeb from bankruptcy, retains 11 percent, while CMA CGM itself owns over 7 percent of Eutelsat.
Fernandez emphasized that relying on dual LEO networks, in addition to Eutelsat’s higher-orbit geostationary satellites, ensures “maximum security” for connectivity and underscores the strategic importance of a European solution in a fragmenting global landscape. He added that integrating OneWeb would not increase costs, as the company would gradually reduce reliance on geostationary satellites.
CMA CGM’s move aligns with its broader strategy of diversification under CEO Rodolphe Saadé, expanding into logistics, media, and technology following a period of strong growth fueled by elevated shipping rates after the Covid pandemic. Reliable satellite connectivity is essential not only for broadband services on board but also for navigation, weather mapping, and optimizing shipping routes.
OneWeb, deployed in partnership with telecoms specialist Marlink Group, is actively seeking clients as Eutelsat stabilizes its finances following a €1.5 billion capital raising last year. In the first half of Eutelsat’s fiscal year ending December 2025, LEO revenues surged 60 percent year-on-year to €111 million, while net losses fell from €873 million to €237 million, demonstrating growing momentum in the European satellite sector.
