Bharti Space to Invest ₹1,200 Crore in Eutelsat
Bharti Space Ltd., a subsidiary of Bharti Enterprises and co-owner of OneWeb with Eutelsat, will invest another ₹1,200 crore (approximately €120 million) into French satellite operator Eutelsat Group. The investment is being undertaken as part of Eutelsat’s overall €1.5 billion capital raising, which is intended to enhance its balance sheet, refinance debt, and speed up its satellite constellation initiatives, including its low Earth orbit (LEO) systems and future IRIS² project, Europe’s sovereign secure connectivity network.
Bharti’s fresh investment will be routed through a preferential share allotment and a rights issue, both expected to close by late 2025. Post-transaction, Bharti’s stake in Eutelsat will increase to 17.9%, reaffirming its position as one of the largest private shareholders. The French government will retain a 29.6% stake, while the UK government will hold around 10.9%, alongside other strategic investors such as shipping giant CMA CGM.
The move further deepens Bharti’s global satcom footprint and supports its vision of enabling seamless global internet access, particularly in underserved areas. It also aligns with broader efforts by European allies to build a competitive alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink.
This latest infusion signals Bharti’s long-term commitment to satellite-based internet infrastructure, both for commercial connectivity and national security imperatives. The partnership highlights growing international collaboration in space technologies, and positions Bharti at the forefront of the evolving NewSpace economy, with strategic stakes across both geostationary and LEO satellite ecosystems.
