Bouygues CEO warns Europe against over-dependence on US technologies like Starlink, urging for greater sovereignty in AI and satellite communications.
Olivier Roussat, CEO of Bouygues, cautioned against Europe's dependence on US technologies such as Starlink, labeling it a "dangerous" trend. In a CNBC interview, he emphasized the necessity for Europe to develop its own capabilities in artificial intelligence and satellite communications.
"There are two areas of the future that Europe needs to recognize the importance of: artificial intelligence and satellite communication," he stated.
Bouygues, a major French engineering conglomerate, is focused on consolidating the telecommunications sector in France. Roussat expressed skepticism about the need for Starlink, asserting that Europe requires more sovereignty in its technological landscape to prevent a single entity from disrupting internet access across the continent.
"I’m not sure we necessarily need Starlink or anything like it. Europe needs something to gain some sovereignty," he added.
Starlink's Market Dominance
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, leads the global satellite internet sector with a fleet of over 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. The company is preparing for a public offering on Nasdaq, aiming for a record-breaking IPO.
In its latest financial report, Starlink's communications unit generated $11.39 billion in revenue for 2025, contributing significantly to SpaceX's overall sales. By early 2026, this unit's revenue share increased to 69%.
Starlink remains the only profitable division within SpaceX, yielding $4.42 billion in profit, while other segments like rocket launches and AI are facing losses.
Starlink's user base has surged, more than doubling to 10.3 million users in the first quarter of the year.
SpaceX estimates its addressable market at a staggering $28.5 trillion, spanning various sectors, including broadband access and AI infrastructure.
"We believe we are still in the early stages of transforming enterprises with artificial intelligence, and corporate AI applications are poised to reshape the digital economy," the company noted in its prospectus.
Rising Competition
Starlink's success has attracted competition from several companies, including:
- OneWeb, managed by Eutelsat, with over 600 satellites;
- Amazon, which has launched over 300 satellites and plans to deploy a 7,700-satellite network;
- Blue Origin, aiming for around 5,400 satellites by 2027;
- China's Guowang, working on a mega-constellation of satellites.
SpaceX's Ambitious Plans
In a bold move, SpaceX has acquired Elon Musk's AI startup xAI to create data centers in space, which could revolutionize the tech landscape. The combined valuation of this venture has reportedly soared to between $1.75 trillion and $2 trillion.
SpaceX has sought approval from the US Federal Communications Commission to launch 1 million additional satellites, aiming to establish a network of data centers connected by laser channels.
Additionally, Musk envisions colonizing Mars and building a city on the Moon, with the latter projected to take under a decade. He noted the logistical challenges of Mars travel compared to the more frequent trips possible to the Moon.
Furthermore, SpaceX is involved in a classified Pentagon project to develop autonomous drone swarms with voice control capabilities.
