French-British Satellite Operator Eutelsat Faces Criticism for Broadcasting Russian Propaganda

In a stunning revelation, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has highlighted the significant role played by the French-British satellite operator Eutelsat in disseminating Kremlin-backed content across Russia and its occupied territories in Ukraine. As one of the world’s largest satellite operators, Eutelsat's actions bear considerable implications due to the geopolitical tensions in the region.

Eutelsat, through its strategically crucial satellite, 36D, broadcasts to approximately 30% of household across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including nations like Belarus and Kazakhstan. Furthermore, in Russia, the satellite enables the streaming of hundreds of channels via Russian television platforms Tricolor and NTV-Plus, despite these platforms being under scrutiny for supporting Kremlin’s narratives and military recruitment drives.

These platforms have previously been sanctioned by the European Union due to their roles in spreading disinformation. However, Eutelsat has continued to allow these channels airtime, blatantly overlooking the Ukrainian government's specific sanctions against NTV-Plus and 16 other Russian channels. This oversight is crucial as it provides the Russian government with a powerful tool to maintain its influence over its occupied territories in Ukraine, feeding the local population with propaganda amid ongoing military aggression.

The situation is further complicated by Eutelsat's refusal to allocate broadcasting space on the more widely-reaching 36D to RSF's Svoboda Satellite project, which aims to counteract Russian state media narratives by providing anti-war information. Instead, Svoboda Satellite is relegated to Hotbird 13E, whose coverage is a mere fraction of what 36D offers.

Contrastingly, Eutelsat is set to expand its influence by participating as an investor in Europe’s upcoming IRIS² satellite network, a project that was just granted a budget of €10.6 billion largely funded by the EU. This development came shortly after Eutelsat merged with British satellite company OneWeb in September 2023, forming the new holding company, Eutelsat Group. Post-merger, Eutelsat's stakeholder composition has become more diverse, with major shareholders spanning from India's Bharti Enterprises to governmental and private investors across Europe, Asia, and North America.

The involvement of Eutelsat in both facilitating and potentially countering different narratives through its satellite networks places it at a critical juncture. As geopolitical tensions continue to stir between Russia and Ukraine, the role of international corporations like Eutelsat Group in either supporting or combating state-driven propaganda will remain under intense scrutiny. How Eutelsat addresses these criticisms moving forward will be pivotal in defining its standing on the global stage, especially concerning ethical broadcasting standards and corporate responsibility.