Eutelsat, a European satellite operator based in Paris, has secured a capital increase of €1.35 billion ($1.55 billion) to expand its satellite fleet and compete with Elon Musk's Starlink. The French government is the largest contributor, investing €717 million and increasing its ownership stake from 13.6% to nearly 30%, thereby becoming Eutelsat's biggest shareholder. This move aims to bolster France's industrial sovereignty in the space sector. Following France's lead, the UK government announced a €163 million ($190 million) investment in Eutelsat, reinforcing its strategic stake and supporting the company's low Earth orbit (LEO) network development. Eutelsat's shares rose notably after these capital boosts, reflecting market optimism about its potential as a European rival to Starlink. Despite these efforts, industry experts remain cautious about Eutelsat's ability to match Starlink's scale, which currently operates over 7,600 satellites compared to Eutelsat's combined 650 satellites with OneWeb. Additionally, Amazon's Kuiper project is preparing to enter the French market, intensifying competition in satellite internet services. The French and UK investments underscore a broader geopolitical and commercial push to establish European leadership in satellite connectivity.