Elon Musk's association with MAGA creates opportunities for European competitors to Starlink.
As Elon Musk greeted Donald Trump in the US Congress yesterday, the South African's polarizing politics were paving the way for his business competitors in Europe. Musk's influence in the White House had already been associated with declining Tesla sales and stock value. Now, the effects seem to have extended to SpaceX.
The focus of the fallout is on the company’s Starlink satellite internet service. This network has provided essential communication support to Ukraine’s military since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. However, there are rising concerns about a potential disruption of the service.
According to Reuters, US officials have recently considered the possibility of cutting off Kyiv’s access to Starlink. Musk, who is the CEO of SpaceX, denied the report. Nevertheless, his control over Ukraine's connectivity has raised increasing worries, especially as both he and Trump have become more critical of the Ukrainian government.
Amid escalating tensions, European satellite internet providers have suggested replacing Starlink with their own services.
In a move against SpaceX and Tesla, Franco-British competitor Eutelsat announced on Tuesday that it is negotiating with the EU to extend its internet service to Ukraine. By the end of the day, the company's shares had risen by 77%.
As the stock climbed, French satellite company Thales issued another warning regarding Starlink. During a results briefing on Tuesday, Thales CEO Patrice Caine highlighted the dangers of governments depending on specific network providers. “Government actors need reliability, visibility, and stability,” Caine stated. “A player that — as we have seen from time to time — mixes economic rationale with political motivations is not the kind that would reassure certain clients.”
Similar worries have been expressed regarding Musk's influence on Tesla. Taking advantage of the backlash from his political actions, Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar provided Tesla owners with a discount on leases for its newest SUV. Jordan Hofmann, head of sales for Polestar US, remarked that the response had been "incredible." “This week saw some of the highest order days for Polestar 3,” he noted on LinkedIn.
Now, apprehensions about Starlink may have opened another opportunity for Musk’s competitors.
Other articles
Tecno AI Glasses Pro are Meta Ray-Bans featuring an augmented reality display.
Tecno's latest smart glasses merge the functionalities of Meta Ray-Bans and Even Realities G1, creating one of the most comprehensive smart glasses available so far.
According to the Russo Brothers, Robert Downey Jr. is “very focused” on his role as Doctor Doom and in the Avengers.
In a recent interview, the Russo Brothers hinted at Robert Downey Jr. and his role in influencing the character of his Avengers adversary, Doctor Doom.
Google AI Mode is set to transform Search. I'm concerned — and you should be as well.
The Google AI mode will eliminate the need to click on links and transform the entire Search page into a lengthy AI-generated reply. Based on my experiences, I believe this is not a good idea.
Discount on Samsung: Get $200 off the 55-inch S90D OLED, but hurry!
The Samsung 55-inch S90D is among the top OLED TVs available. Coincidentally, it is currently discounted by $200 at Best Buy.
Dutch technology leaders urge for more robust support for women entrepreneurs.
Female entrepreneurs are often neglected, inadequately funded, and underestimated. Four women leaders in the Netherlands discuss the reasons behind this need for change.
How to view the initial SpaceX crew launch since September
SpaceX is set to launch four astronauts to the space station in its first crewed mission since September of the previous year.
Elon Musk's association with MAGA creates opportunities for European competitors to Starlink.
Las políticas controvertidas de Elon Musk están generando nuevas oportunidades comerciales para los competidores europeos de Tesla y Starlink.