Live

The new company will employ around 25,000 people across Europe and aims to generate €6.5 billion in annual revenue. It is expected to begin operations in 2027, pending approval from EU competition authorities.

Experts behind the initiative say the project will create a “European space champion capable of competing with Starlink and state-run Chinese systems.” The joint venture will bring together Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio, and Airbus Defence and Space, covering the entire satellite value chain — from manufacturing to advanced data services.

Europe Responds to Starlink’s Rapid Expansion

Starlink dominates the global satellite-communication landscape, with over 10,000 satellites launched and control of around 65% of all active units in orbit. European leaders fear losing ground in key areas such as Earth observation, secure communications, and satellite-based internet.

The project — known as Bromo — aims to strengthen Europe’s position in these strategic fields while supporting IRIS², the EU’s flagship €10-billion programme for a sovereign satellite-internet system. The European Commission views the merger as a cornerstone of the EU’s push for “strategic autonomy in space.”

Italy’s Minister for Enterprise, Adolfo Urso, called the project an “essential leap toward European technological sovereignty,” highlighting Italy’s key role in the initiative. The merger fits into Europe’s broader goal of reducing dependence on U.S. technologies while reinforcing defence resilience and critical communications. Both NATO and the EU classify space infrastructure as a vital component of modern security.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Reactions across Europe are mixed. Trade unions — including France’s CGT Métallurgie — warn that the merger could lead to job losses and excessive market concentration, noting that Airbus and Thales already hold dominant positions in the space sector.

Officials at the European Space Agency (ESA) acknowledge that Europe needs a “critical mass” to remain globally competitive but caution against creating a quasi-monopoly that might undermine Europe’s economic and military security.

“I am convinced that the future of defence lies in space — or at least that space will play a crucial role,” said Rolf Densing, ESA’s Director of Operations.

The new company plans to launch its first integrated platform between 2028 and 2029, supporting IRIS² missions as well as commercial partnerships with major European telecom operators such as Orange and Deutsche Telekom.

Ultimately, the merger marks Europe’s most ambitious attempt yet to regain influence in the fast-growing satellite economy — blending innovation, sovereignty, and security into a new chapter of Europe’s space strategy.

Written by

Shape the conversation

Do you have anything to add to this story? Any ideas for interviews or angles we should explore? Let us know if you’d like to write a follow-up, a counterpoint, or share a similar story.

Write a counterargument article Write a related article