Bharti Space Ltd., the satellite arm of Bharti Enterprises, is investing an additional €120 million (about ₹1,204 crore) in France-based satellite company Eutelsat. This brings its total investment in the current fundraising round to €150 million, following a €30 million infusion in June 2025. The funding is part of Eutelsat’s expanded €1.5 billion capital raise to strengthen its global satellite communication capabilities.
Stake to Decline as French Government Takes Lead
Despite the additional funding, Bharti Space’s stake in Eutelsat will drop from 24.09% to 17.88%. The French government will become the largest shareholder with a 29.65% stake through a mix of preferential allotment and rights issues totaling €750 million. The UK government will also join, investing €163 million for a 10.89% stake.
Other Key Investors Join Round
The fundraising round has also attracted support from key entities. French shipping group CMA CGM will hold 7.46%, while sovereign fund FSP will own 4.99% following their investments. The entire funding round is expected to close by the end of 2025.
Merger with OneWeb Strengthens Bharti’s Global Play
Bharti became the largest shareholder in Eutelsat in 2023 after Eutelsat merged with OneWeb, a satellite company Bharti helped rescue in 2020. The merged firm, Eutelsat OneWeb, now combines over 600 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites with Eutelsat’s existing geostationary satellite services.
Strategic Role in India’s Satellite Broadband Plans
Bharti’s continued investment in Eutelsat supports its goal of launching satellite broadband in India. Eutelsat OneWeb is one of only three firms with a GMPCS licence in India, alongside Jio-SES and Starlink. The company has received most regulatory approvals except for spectrum, and is awaiting the government’s final policy to begin commercial rollout.
India’s Satellite Market Gets Competitive
India’s satellite communication market is becoming increasingly competitive. Starlink, with over 6,000 satellites, recently secured final regulatory clearance to operate in India. Jio has tied up with SES, and Vodafone Idea is exploring satellite services with AST SpaceMobile. Other global companies like Amazon’s Kuiper and Globalstar have also applied for licences, making the Indian satcom space a hotbed of activity.
