Eutelsat versus Starlink

by C. M.

Because that’s a ‘hot’ topic, these days, and there are so many related questions, and I’m clueless about issues in this field, a reader (who prefers to remain anonymous, except he’s graduate of studies of Geoinformatics) was so kind to put together the following - short but poignant - summary.

Please mind: while I’ll leave the option to comment to this post ‘open’, I am out of position to answer any related questions: once again, I do not know enough about the topic in question to say, while the author of the following review has kindly provided all the links to his sources.

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Eutelsat OneWeb and Starlink are two prominent providers of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet services, each with distinct technical features and target markets. 1)

• Eutelsat OneWeb: Eutelsat OneWeb focuses on providing high-speed internet connectivity, particularly for businesses and specialized sectors. It operates a constellation of 634 satellites, offering speeds up to 150 Mbps with latency under 70 ms. OneWeb's key technical advantage is its direct network peering ability, which allows businesses to maintain secure, private network communications. OneWeb primarily targets enterprise customers, government agencies, and IoT industry partners, offering tailored solutions such as committed information rate (CIR) and dedicated bandwidth plans. OneWeb's services are enhanced by professional installation and dedicated 24/7 support, ensuring reliable and stable internet for business operations. 2) 3)

• Starlink: Starlink, operated by SpaceX, is a key provider of LEO satellite internet services, with a constellation of over 4,800 active satellites. It offers a range of speed options, with download speeds ranging from 100 to 300 Mbps and latency of 80 to 100 milliseconds. Starlink is designed for residential consumers and small businesses, providing a user-friendly setup and diverse speed plans. The service is widely accessible nationwide, with a focus on rural areas. Starlink's expansion plan involves the launch of up to 42,000 satellites to improve connectivity in less densely populated regions. Starlink excels in providing home internet service, making it suitable for residential and small business needs, including heavy-duty streaming and gaming. 2) 3)

Conclusion

In a technical comparison, Starlink has a larger constellation of satellites, which allows for more extensive coverage and higher total bandwidth. According to a technical study, Starlink's total estimated bandwidth is significantly higher than OneWeb's, with Starlink achieving 23.7 Tbps compared to OneWeb's 1.56 Tbps. 4) However, OneWeb's simpler satellite design and direct network peering capabilities make it a strong option for enterprise and specialized use cases, where secure and dedicated connections are crucial. For residential and small business users, Starlink is generally the better choice due to its user-friendly setup and wide availability. For businesses and enterprises, especially those in remote or rural areas, Eutelsat OneWeb offers more tailored and secure solutions.

Conclusion In a technical comparison, Starlink has a larger constellation of satellites, which allows for more extensive coverage and higher total bandwidth. According to a technical study, Starlink's total estimated bandwidth is significantly higher than OneWeb's, with Starlink achieving 23.7 Tbps compared to OneWeb's 1.56 Tbps.4) However, OneWeb's simpler satellite design and direct network peering capabilities make it a strong option for enterprise and specialized use cases, where secure and dedicated connections are crucial. For residential and small business users, Starlink is generally the better choice due to its user-friendly setup and wide availability. For businesses and enterprises, especially those in remote or rural areas, Eutelsat OneWeb offers more tailored and secure solutions.

Sources:
1) https://www.satelliteinternet.com/resources/oneweb-vs-starlink/

2) https://galaxybroadband.ca/resources/starlink-vs-oneweb-comparison/

3) https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/a2bvuw/a_technical_comparison_of_three_lo w_earth_orbit/?rdt=56750

4) https://www.techbook.de/connectivity/konnect-und-starlink-schnelles-internet-aus-dem-all

5) https://www.speedcast.com/blog-hub/2024/starlink-and-oneweb/

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Military and Defence

Eutelsat and Starlink are both significant players in the satellite internet market, each with distinct technical capabilities and strategic focuses, particularly in the realm of secure military communications.

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Technical Comparison

Eutelsat OneWeb:

• Satellite Constellation: Eutelsat OneWeb has a constellation of 634 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) as of late 2023, making it the second-largest LEO constellation after Starlink.1) 6)

• Coverage and Availability: Eutelsat OneWeb primarily serves Europe, the UK, and Asia, focusing on governments, enterprises, and IoT industry partners. 1) 6)

• Data Speeds and Latency: Eutelsat OneWeb offers speeds up to 150 Mbps with latency under 70 ms. 3)

• Technical Advantages: Eutelsat OneWeb's direct network peering ability stands out, offering extended network capabilities and secure, private network communications.3) Starlink:

• Satellite Constellation: Starlink has a much larger constellation with over 7,000 satellites in LEO as of 2025. 2) 6)

• Coverage and Availability: Starlink provides global coverage and is widely accessible, focusing on residential and small business needs in rural areas. 3) 6)

• Data Speeds and Latency: Starlink offers download speeds ranging from 100 to 300 Mbps with latency of 80 to 100 milliseconds. 3) 6)

• Technical Advantages: Starlink uses Ka-band phased array antennas, which are user-friendly and suitable for a wide range of applications. 3)

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Secure Military Encryption

Eutelsat OneWeb:

• Military Applications: Eutelsat OneWeb is involved in providing secure communications for government and defense applications. It can offer an alternative to Starlink for certain government and defense needs. 2)

• Encryption: While specific details on encryption are not provided, Eutelsat OneWeb's focus on secure, private network communications suggests robust encryption capabilities. 3)

Starlink:

• Military Applications: Starlink has been extensively used by the U.S. military for secure communications. The Air Force has been testing Starlink for encrypted internet services on military planes, achieving internet speeds of 610 Mbps. 4)

• Encryption: Starlink communications are encrypted within the Starlink network, but the specifics of the encryption methods are not publicly detailed. The network uses a combination of hardware and software security measures to protect against espionage and man-in-the-middle attacks. 7)

Conclusion

Both Eutelsat OneWeb and Starlink offer robust technical capabilities and secure communication options, but they serve different market segments. Eutelsat OneWeb is more focused on enterprise and government applications, while Starlink is geared towards residential and small business users. In terms of secure military encryption, Starlink has a more established track record with the U.S. military, but Eutelsat OneWeb is also positioning itself as a viable alternative, particularly in Europe and other regions. Eutelsat and Starlink are both significant players in the satellite internet market, each with distinct technical capabilities and strategic focuses, particularly in the realm of secure military communications.

Sources:

1) https://www.satelliteinternet.com/resources/oneweb-vs-starlink/

2) https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/could-europes-eutelsat-help-replace-starlinkukraine-2025-03-05/

3) https://galaxybroadband.ca/resources/starlink-vs-oneweb-comparison/

4) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spacex-starlink-airforce-idUSKBN1X12KM/

5) https://www.politico.eu/article/relax-elon-musk-eu-threat-starlink-iris2-broadband-internet/

6) https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/technologie/satelliten-eutelsat-100.html

7) https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/mcpdqg/are_starlink_communications_encrypted/