Eutelsat Strengthens Foundation with Key Shareholder Move and African Expansion

Eutelsat is taking decisive action on two fronts, signaling a concerted effort to build a more stable foundation following a challenging 2025. The satellite operator is seeing its ownership base solidify with a major shareholder significantly increasing its stake, while simultaneously advancing its operational strategy in Africa through a new supply agreement.

A key development is a newly announced memorandum of understanding with Clear Blue Technologies. This agreement is centered on a planned three-year supply contract designed to accelerate the rollout of Eutelsat’s “Konnect WiFi” service across Africa.

The partnership outlines a clear path for expansion:
* An initial order for approximately 1,000 “Pico-Plus” systems, valued at around 1 million Canadian dollars.
* A potential total volume reaching up to 15,000 units over the full three-year period.
* Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2026, targeting four specific African markets.

This initiative leverages Clear Blue’s “Smart Off-Grid” technology to provide reliable power for WiFi hotspots in remote areas. For Eutelsat, this represents a strategic component in its plan to better monetize satellite capacity in emerging economies and expand its B2B footprint on the continent.

Major Shareholder Reinforces Commitment with Substantial Purchase

In a separate but equally significant move, major shareholder Bharti Space has dramatically increased its investment. On December 16, the entity acquired a block of 88.7 million shares at a price of 1.35 euros per share, representing a total transaction value of approximately 119.7 million euros.

This purchase elevates Bharti Space’s holding to 17.88 percent of Eutelsat. Combined with the French state’s 29.65 percent stake, the company’s ownership structure appears more anchored. Market observers interpret this substantial commitment as a strong signal that key insiders view the current share price level as an attractive entry point.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Eutelsat?

This sentiment is reflected in recent trading activity. The share price has shown preliminary stabilization, with the 1.60 euro mark establishing itself as a support level in recent days. Meanwhile, the 1.35 euro price paid by Bharti Space is widely seen as a psychological floor for many investors. The stock currently trades steadily above this transaction price, in the range of 1.65 to 1.67 euros.

Context and Strategic Direction

The past year, 2025, was a period of transition for Eutelsat, marked by the integration of the OneWeb business and a strained balance sheet that necessitated a capital increase. This occurred alongside intensifying competition in the global satellite market.

While competitors like SpaceX’s Starlink dominate the direct-to-consumer segment, Eutelsat OneWeb is strategically positioning itself as an infrastructure provider for telecommunications companies and government clients. The African expansion announced today fits squarely into this strategy: focusing less on end-user retail and more on B2B solutions that utilize existing satellite capacity.

Taken together with Bharti Space’s substantial share purchase, these developments paint a picture of a company methodically working to enhance both its operational focus and shareholder stability, despite a highly competitive landscape.

Upcoming Catalysts: Funding and Financial Results

In the near term, market attention will focus on the completion of ongoing financing measures by year-end. As 2026 begins, the management team led by CEO Jean-François Fallacher will be under pressure to demonstrate that the synergies from the OneWeb merger are translating into tangible cash flow improvements.

The next major milestone is February 13, 2026, when Eutelsat is expected to release its half-year financial results. Until then, trading is likely to remain contained between the support zone around 1.60 euros and a resistance area near 1.80 euros, with further contract announcements like today’s potentially providing positive momentum.