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France May Send Eutelsat Terminals to Iran to Restore Internet Access
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France is considering sending Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran to help restore internet access for citizens, after authorities in Tehran imposed a near-total digital blackout during the country’s most violent wave of unrest in years, Reuters reported on January 14.
“We are exploring all options, and the one you have mentioned is among them,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told the lower house of parliament on Wednesday, in response to a question about whether France would deploy Eutelsat technology to Iran.
Eutelsat, backed by both French and British governments, owns OneWeb—the only low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation aside from Starlink, which is operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. These satellites provide broadband internet from space, often used in remote or disrupted regions.
Iranian authorities have reportedly launched a deadly crackdown on protesters, with thousands said to have been killed, and have imposed a nearly complete internet shutdown, Reuters reported.
Despite these restrictions, some Iranians have managed to connect to Starlink’s satellite internet, according to three people inside the country. However, access remains limited.
“Even Starlink service appears to be reduced,” said Alp Toker, founder of NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring group.
Eutelsat declined to comment when asked by Reuters about its potential role in restoring connectivity to Iran.
Reuters highlights that while Starlink currently operates over 9,000 satellites, OneWeb’s fleet has just over 600. Starlink’s terminals are also said to be more affordable and easier to deploy, making them better suited for conflict zones or rapid deployment scenarios.
Eutelsat is already involved in providing internet access to Ukraine’s military, although Starlink remains the primary connectivity provider on the battlefield, Reuters noted.
“OneWeb terminals are bulkier than Starlink’s and easier to jam,” said Carlos Placido, a satellite communications analyst. “The sheer scale of the Starlink constellation makes jamming more challenging, though not impossible. With OneWeb, it’s much easier to predict when and where a satellite will be overhead.”
Earlier, it was reported that an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, Rona, which Western investigations have previously linked to maritime routes used for Iranian weapons deliveries to Russia, sent a distress signal while sinking in the Caspian Sea.
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