Europe Forms €6.5B Aerospace Consortium to Rival Musk's Starlink by 2027

Europe is consolidating its satellite manufacturing and services sectors to challenge Elon Musk's Starlink dominance in low Earth orbit internet connectivity. Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo have agreed to merge their space activities under a new Toulouse-based consortium, codenamed Project Bromo, expected to launch operations by 2027. This new venture, Europe's largest aerospace deal in over two decades, is projected to employ 25,000 people and generate around €6.5 billion in annual revenue, aiming to enhance strategic autonomy and competitiveness. The partnership seeks to counter the growing competition from low-cost satellite operators like Starlink and strengthen Europe’s presence in the evolving satellite industry. Concurrently, China is expanding its own satellite internet network, Qianfan, with plans for about 28,000 satellites, establishing deals in countries such as Brazil, Malaysia, and Thailand. These developments signal a significant shift in the global satellite internet market, with new rules and more choices emerging for global connectivity.