FCC Chair: Europe Must Choose Between US and Chinese Satellite Tech
Washington turns up pressure on European allies over satellite technology, urges rejection of China’s growing space influence
United States, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Brendan Carr, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), strongly criticized European regulators for their skepticism toward the American satellite giant, warning that the alternative—Chinese state-backed systems—poses a far greater strategic threat.
Carr accused European Union regulators of being “biased,” “protectionist,” and “anti-American,” particularly in their questioning of Starlink’s dependability.
In an interview with the Financial Times, he said that if EU leaders are concerned about Starlink, they should "wait for the CCP’s version,” referencing China’s plans to launch a massive satellite constellation of its own.
Time to Choose
“Europe is caught a little bit between the US and China. And it’s sort of time for choosing,” Carr told FT, arguing that a “great divide” is forming between countries aligned with the Chinese Communist Party and those in the democratic West.
He urged “allied Western democracies” to refocus their strategic priorities toward what he sees as the long-term threat: the rise of the Chinese Communist Party in high-tech domains, particularly satellite communications and artificial intelligence.
European Doubts and Alternatives
Starlink has already been tested by major telecom operators in the UK, including BT and Virgin Media O2, for both mobile and broadband services. However, no firm agreements have been reached.
In the European Union, Brussels has expressed doubts about Starlink’s reliability—especially after U.S. threats to shut off the service in Ukraine during sensitive military operations.
In response, EU officials have promoted funding for homegrown providers such as France’s Eutelsat and Luxembourg’s SES, pushing for a more sovereign European satellite infrastructure.
But according to experts, matching the reach and capabilities of Starlink’s vast satellite network—currently over 7,000 satellites—is a monumental and likely impossible task for European firms in the near future.
These comments come amid escalating breakdowns in the relationship between European governments and the US since Donald Trump came into power and bedded down with wealthy US tech leaders.
Carr said that European regulators , which have various ongoing investigations into Meta, Apple, Google, and X, had a “bias” against US tech companies. Carr also accused the European Commission of “protectionism” and having an “anti-American” attitude, according to The Times. (PW)